Circling to the Center: One Woman's Encounter with Silent Prayer [Paperback]

Susan Tiberghien (Author), M. Basil, Ocsp Pennington (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2001

Like Kathleen Norris and Madeleine L'Engle, Susan Tiberghien tackles the spiritual memoir to luminous results. While Tiberghien's style is contemplative, her subject is earthy: her childhood summoned up by the death of her father, her marriage to a Frenchman and moving away to Europe and her caring for a large family. Throughout this is Tiberghien's own story of spiritual apathy and the way of prayer that led to her renewal.

Circling to the Center is both a spiritual memoir and an introduction to the way of silent prayer. The author draws from such spiritual writers as Thomas Merton, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Julian of Norwich, and incorporates themes from Taoist, Hindu, Sufi, and Native American cultures. In addition the book is rich with symbols and insights from Jungian psychology.

Enhanced with a foreword by M. Basil Pennington, this is a thoughtful and stimulating book for all spiritual seekers. It is an inspiring choice for the mature Christian, for retreat directors and spiritual directors, and for anyone interested in Jungian thinking, the centering prayer, non-Christian spirituality and deeper creativity.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A compassionate and inspirational book, read with much pleasure. Hard to put down. -- Janet Thomas

A fine example of one woman's encounter with silent prayer. -- Parabola

A gracefully written memoir of her own response to grace. -- The Merton Seasonal

Highly recommended, contemplative reading for all who seek to enhance their own personal spirituality and relationship with the Deity. -- The Bookwatch (The Official Newsletter of The Midwest Book Review)

The longing she expresses will find an echo in the hearts of many readers. -- John Welch, O. Carm., author of Spiritual Pilgrims

This is a wonderful book on prayer, engaging and penetrating. -- Spiritual Book News

This thought-provoking, book has the ability to speak to the individual reader and call forth our own desire for God. -- Spiritual Book News

About the Author

Susan M. Tiberghien, an American writer living in Switzerland, is the author of Looking for Gold: A Year in Jungian Analysis.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press (January 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809139405
• ISBN-13: 978-0809139408
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,415,185 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Susan Tiberghien, an American writer living in Geneva, Switzerland, is the author of three memoirs--Looking for Gold, Circling to the Center, and Footsteps---and the best-selling One Year to a Writing Life. Her narrative essays are widely published in journals and anthologies. She teaches creative writing at writers centers (Grub Street, Hudson Valley, Bethesda), writers conferences for the International Women's Writing Guild, and at CG Jung Institutes. She founded and directs the Geneva Writers Group and Conferences. She recently celebrated 50 years of marriage to her French husband. Their six children, plus spouses,and fifteen grandkids were present! www.susantiberghien.com; www.genevawritersgroup.org

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reflections, February 18, 2001

By 

Janet D. Thomas (Geneva, Switzerland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Circling to the Center: One Woman's Encounter with Silent Prayer (Paperback)

From "Looking for Gold", her first book, Susan Tiberghien seems to have found gold in "Circling to the Center, One Woman's Encounter with Silent Prayer." The book is a pilgrim's story. Through her own life, she takes the reader to depths of one's own soul while gently introducing them to spiritual mentors along the way. She reawakens that inner yearning for a deeper spiritual life and the need to create space for reflection from a grateful heart. Her 'Suggested Reading' list will be well appreciatedd by anyone searching for a scholarly spiritual foundation. A compassionate and inspirational book, read with much pleasure. Hard to put down.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A FINE SYMPHONY, April 22, 2001

By 

Carol F. Peck (Burtonsville, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Circling to the Center: One Woman's Encounter with Silent Prayer (Paperback)

This book is structured like a fine symphony: its unity is the theme of the power of silent prayer; its variety (development of the theme) lies in its metaphors for different life experiences; and its progression is masterful: each chapter grows and reveals its insight, and the final, golden chapter grows to a climax that recapitulates, gathers together everything that went before. CIRCLING TO THE CENTER is a quiet tour de force.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A superbly crafted, inspiringly presented spiritual memoir, February 26, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Circling to the Center: One Woman's Encounter with Silent Prayer (Paperback)

Susan Tiberghien's Circling To The Center: One Woman's Encounter With Silent Prayer is a superbly crafted, inspiringly presented spiritual memoir of considerably depth and grace. The engaging text is enhanced with thirteen thematically appropriate illustrations. Circling To The Center is highly recommended, contemplative reading for all who seek to enhance their own person spirituality and relationship with the Deity.