Customer Reviews

Book of Hours: Prayers to the Goddess

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Breathe. Breathe. Wingspans reaching into eternity. The everlasting filling my lungs until all I can do is breathe. Goddess is within and without, Now Goddess is within and without-- me. (From the introductory chapter of the Book of Hours)

Though somewhat small in scope (you just want more once you start reading this collection), this 118-page hardcover book is absolutely wonderful. Many people would like to bring themselves closer to the Goddess, but don't know how, or lack the words to express themselves confidently. Many would like to just thank the Lady for the light of day, the depth of night, the turning of the wheel, honor the cycles of their lives, or pray for an intercession.

Author Galen Gillotte, a solitary 20-year practitioner of Wicca, does a beautiful job of evoking the magic and mystery the Goddess, giving both the novice and experienced alike, a collection of prayers to use on a daily, moon cycle, or seasonal basis. She also includes prayers for those seeking divine interventions, or just to celebrate special occasions or life transitions.

This book is far deeper than the Wiccan Prayer Book. Gillotte exhibits a truly devout spirit and seems to capture the spirit of the Goddess and the moment well through her simple, yet profound, use of poetry and metaphor. In the introductory chapter, Gillotte adequately describes the four types of prayer she emphasizes in the book, prayers of expectation, prayers of thanksgiving, prayers of celebration and prayers of contemplation. She speaks on setting up sacred space for praying, thoughts concerning praying alone or in larger groups, and how the book should best be used. At the back is some nice background information regarding the Goddesses used in her invocations.

The book has a morning, evening, and night prayer for every day of the week, for the wheel of the year, and for the full and new moon. For each, there is a small introductory prayer and a closing. For the morning and evening prayers there is also a very brief meditation, and affirmation. The night prayer has a meditation and dream images in place of the affirmation.

The final section is comprised of brief prayers for special occasions, such as the birth of a child, for a handfasting, before meal prayers, etc. There are also prayers to release anger, to bring love into your life, for self-blessing, healing, to help one find their life path, and for coping with loss or grief.

My only complaint is that I want more from this author who seems to capture the spirit of Goddess worship so well. The only complaint I have is about layout. I wish the morning, evening and night prayers for each day of the week could have been lumped together under the day of the week rather than subdivided in chapters by morning, evening and night prayers...it just makes a little more sense keeping it all together by day of the week. The seasonal and moon prayers are done the opposite way, which I believe works far better.

I highly recommend this for those Pagans, Wiccans and Goddess worshippers who recognize the positive benefits praying can bring to their daily lives and who want to deepen their relationship with divinity. Here are a few other related books prayerful Pagans might be interested in: *Earth Prayers*, *Life Prayers*. *Celtic Devotional*, *Her Words*.

I would like to thank Llwellyn Worldwide for publishing a wonderful resource for the growing Goddess-centered communities and encourage them to seek out more such material.

Llewellyn has outdone themselves with the presentation of this book. It comes in a hardcover edition with lovely gold cover writing and a ribbon marker. It looks like a book to treasure and leave by the altar, which is exactly what I do.

After such a spectacular outside, the inside doesn't disappoint. There are 3 prayers for every day of the week (Morning, Evening, and Night) and 3 prayers (likewise Morning, Evening, and Night) for each Sabbat. She even includes 3 daily prayers for each moon phase. Galen Gillotte has an absolutely amazing way with words. Even the introductions to the sections roll beautifully. As for the prayers themselves, I have found spiritual insight in every single one, and I find it comforting and relaxing to make time every day for prayer. Using this book, I definitely feel like my spiritual practices have been kicked up a notch.

You might think "3 prayers a day! No one has time for that!" but really it only takes a few minutes for each one, and the result is a closer connection to the divine. If you want to add daily prayed to your spiritual practices, then this is the book to have! I highly recommend it for pagans and those exploring Goddess spirituality. Both beginners and the highly advanced can get something out of this book.

There is a sacred energy around this volume. The wisdom of design, yes, but this is not a hollow package. The comfort and spirit inside far exceed the outer beauty.
The word "prayer" is not commonly heard among Pagans, why? The Book of Hours fills a deep need for simple daily devotion, meditation and joy, that requires only you. When you may not have time to perform a New Moon ritual, you'll have an outlet that allows your dedication. It is the purest ritual you can undertake.
Light and thin, this is a book you can carry with pride that won't cause stares or unwanted questions, as well. To tell non-Pagans that you are "praying" is a spiritual bridge and shield at the same time. This is a book to which people of other religions are very receptive, because it is after all, a book like their own.
There are modest poetic prayers for waking and sleeping, morning and night, each day of the week, and the Moon cycles and Sabbats. Most blessed is the (too short) section of "Common of our Lives Prayers" which has the wonderfully memorable "Prayer for a Safe Journey", among others. This also contains the "Prayer for the Loss of a Pet" which was what sold the book to me. Anyone who writes with such compassion should be rewarded.
The Book of Hours is inexpensive as well, and my copy still looks new after a year and a half of reverent use. I cannot recommend it enough. Dare I say it's like a bible to me?

Yes, just ask Galen Gillotte. Book of Hours - Prayers to the Goddess, is a lovely collection of poetry, prayers, and devotions to the Lady. Many have written of her and to her, and Gillotte is among the best. In paganism, sometimes, the Lord is often overlooked. (I would have to plead guilty to this myself.) But Gillotte knows Him, and adores Him, and definitely not as some old guy with along white beard handing out rules! These verses opened my eyes and my heart. And also blew me away, for if anything, they are even more beautiful that her words to the Goddess.

I can't say enough wonderful things about this book. First off is the design of the book. A beautifully designed read and gold hardcover it befits the title of religious book. No huge pentagram or scantly dressed "witch" here this is a book for all those that take Wicca as a real religion as opposed to a means to find wealth or love. The text it slightly baroque, but beautifully written and very reverent of all pagan religions. It first explains about the different kinds of prayers, and then it has the different prayers in sections. Morning, Evening, Night, Seasonal, Full Moon. No prayers to find love, money, or anything else, just beautiful praise and thanks to the Goddess Mother of us all.

I find the prayers in this book to be just lovely. I admire and respect the author for composing such poetic and heartfelt prayers to the Goddess. They brighten my day, every day.

As a practicing Witch for the last ten years, I firmly believe that true magic is best created personally by each individual. I feel the same way about how one chooses to honour the Goddess with their praise and/or worship. I must say however, that this little book is quite moving, has a lovely and simple presentation-- and is a wonderful little 'prayer' book for both the novice and the knowledgable. This book is great for those who would like to inspire their own practice further, as well as for those who may have a handle on the ropes, but simply haven't got a lot of free time to cultivate prose. To the author, Galen Gillotte, thank you for sharing this gift with us all!

This is a wonderful little prayer book that adds dimension and depth to the spiritual life of anyone. The prayers in this book are simple and short, but moving and beautiful. There are prayers for different phases of the moon, different periods of your life, moods, and also rotating prayers so your daily prayers are not the same from day to day or week to week.

I have been practicing wicca for almost seven years now and prayer has always been a part of my daily routine. I found this book to deepen my prayer time and give me prayers I can expand and build on.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is on the path of the goddess. You will not be disappointed by what you find inside.

I thought this book was fantastic. I do the daily hours every day. As a former Catholic monk, I missed the regular prayer times and even prayer in Wicca. This has filled a sorely needed niche in the Wiccan library.

This is a beautiful book, inside and out. As a contemplative and solitary Goddess devotee, I found that this book touched my heart completely! I use it every day and would highly recommend it to others so inclined to prayer work. Thank you, Ms. Gillotte, for a fine and moving contribution!