A Book of Pagan Prayer [Paperback]

Ceisiwr Serith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2002

It is you who will be talking to the gods. Be clear. Be careful in how you pray. Take care how you come before the gods. Give them your best. There are many reference books on elaborate pagan rituals but never - until now - a guide to the most basic of practices: prayers and offerings. A Book of Pagan Prayer provides the pagan community a comprehensive and thoughtful selection of prayers - and shows readers how they too can create their own. After an introduction on why to pray, author Ceisiwr Serith explores how to pray through words, posture, dance, and music. He explains how to prepare for and compose prayers, how to address and honor the deities, and how to conclude a prayer. Serith also answers important questions, such as: Why should pagans pray? Should prayers be spontaneous? What are offerings about? Is all this just trying to buy the gods off? Gathered from many traditions - including Celtic, Germanic, Egyptian, Greek, and Zoroastrian - this guide includes nearly 500 sample prayers organized by purpose: for the family and household; times of the day, month, and year; life passages; thanksgiving, grace, and petition; as well as litanies and mantras. Whether offering a blessing, celebrating new life, safeguarding travel, or honoring the seasons, readers will discover timeless pagan prayers for worship, spiritual connection, and personal relationship with the gods.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Pagan Prayers and MoreBilling itself as the one and only collection of prayers for Pagans of any tradition, Ceisiwr Serith's A Book of Pagan Prayer includes prayers to Celtic, Egyptian, Zoroastrian and other deities. It is organized thematically, making it convenient to use if one is seeking prayers for specific occasions, seasons, times of day, meals or milestones.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

In his 25 years as a Pagan, Ceisiwr Serith has been active in the Pagan community both as a writer and a presenter of workshops at Pagan gatherings. His interest in prayers and offerings grew naturally as the result of writing rituals for Wiccan covens, Druidic groves, and, of course, his book The Pagan Family. He has written several articles on Proto-Indo-European theology and Celtic and Druidic traditions for Enchante, The Druid's Progress, and Oak Leaves. Serith is a member of Arn Draiocht Fein, the nation's largest Druid fellowship, and a founding member of one of its groves.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books; 4th Printing edition (May 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578632552
• ISBN-13: 978-1578632558
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 4.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,303 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #20 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Prayerbooks
  • #42 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Earth-Based Religions > Paganism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prayers answered, June 13, 2002

By 

"smilingpanther" (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Book of Pagan Prayer (Paperback)

In this book, the reader is taken on a tour of not only the forms of prayer, but the reasons behind them. Numerous examples are given, giving the reader the option to use those that appeal to them straight out of the book, or to write their own based upon the forms demonstrated. In a market deluged with fluffy "How To's", this book is a delightful breath of fresh air. Rather than rehashing the same tired information over again, Mr. Serith focuses on helping the reader either begin or strengthen their relationship with the divine, regardless of which deity or deities the reader feels drawn to. Groundbreaking, and an easy and enjoyable read to boot.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Book for the Average Neopagan, December 4, 2002

By 

L. D. Blair (Winston-Salem, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Book of Pagan Prayer (Paperback)

Given the scope of the endeavor, Mr Serith hits the mark very well. Try to imagine putting a prayer book together that will satisfy all Monotheists--Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Zoroastrians--and you will have some idea of what Mr Serith is trying to accomplish. Druids, Wiccans, solitaries, Greek & Norse Reconstructionists, Mystery Cult Reconstructionists, etc., don't exactly see eye-to-eye on many things. Mr Serith has walked a good middle path so as not to exclude or overemphazise any one neopagan cultus/tradition. I think this will be a great reference work for the average neopagan. Hopefully other books of this type will be forthcoming. I'm giving this book 4 stars to let the author know that he could improve on this product in future editions.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Little Book of Prayer, July 15, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: A Book of Pagan Prayer (Paperback)

No matter what manner of Pagan you are, you will be pleased by this little book. Its handy size, tasteful dark green cover and easy-to-read typeface makes it a pleasure to hold and read. When you get through admiring the outside of the book, there are many treasures inside. There is a thorough discussion on the topic of prayer, why we pray, who we pray to, and how to compose a good prayer. Even if you think there is nothing new that can be said about the subject of prayer, you will think differently when you read this book. A Book of Pagan Prayer also contains a wealth of prayers suitable for many different occasions and events, beautifully and thoughtfully written. The best thing about the book, however, is that it will inspire you to compose some prayers of your own, and use them in your own worship and rituals. Dare I call this book an instant classic? I think I dare! You will enjoy the author's intelligent and gentle style throughout the prayer book. Spontaneous prayer is admirable, but a well-composed written prayer has goodness too, as this small book will teach you. Get two, so you will have one to give away.
Five well-deserved stars.