A Book of Pagan Prayer (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Those of us who call ourselves Pagans owe a debt to all those who came before us..." (more)
Key Phrases: numinous beings, pour blessings, household spirits, Holy Ones, Land Spirits, Queen Isis (more...)

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.

Product Description

"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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books (June 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 (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #344,670 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	"smilingpanther" (Florida) - See all my reviews

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.

17 of 17 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)

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.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very User Friendly, June 18, 2003

By	Christopher Raines "druidminstrel" (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a wonderful book for any Pagan to own. The prayers found in this book are very usable, practical, and easy to modify. Serith put a lot of thought and study into prayer, how and why we use/need it, as well as how to write prayers of your own.