A Gnostic Book of Hours: Keys to Inner Wisdom [Paperback]

June Singer (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: Nicolas-Hays; 1st Paper Ed edition (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892540672
• ISBN-13: 978-0892540679
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 6.2 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #931,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Unique Spiritual Devotional Book, February 21, 2009

By 

M. alice Strom - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Gnostic Book of Hours: Keys to Inner Wisdom (Paperback)

I purchased A Gnostic Book of Hours a few years ago and found it, at that time, disappointing and confusing. But years passed and my life changed. More than that, my spiritual life took an unexpected turn. I had begun what I would now call a Gnostic journey. I wondered why my religion taught me (and my fellow followers) that the informed consciences of authority figures within the church were wiser than MY or (or others') informed consciences. Moreover, those authorities had the power to withhold certain religious consolations from me if I (or others) didn't adhere to their dogmas. While I questioned those teachings, I did not question my faith, many aspects of which were taught to me by the church. That is when I began to read Elaine Pagel's books on the gnostic gospels and discovered that there have always been seekers like me, and my discomfort with having to accept the dictates of someone else's conscience was neither new nor a sin. Eventually, longing for more prayerful reading, I remembered that I already had June Singer's "Gnostic Book of Hours". fThat was when every word in became enlightening. It provided teaching that I needed and direction that promoted spiritual growth rather than obedience. It helped me to shed negative feelings about myself and my journey. It has become one of my treasured devotional books. I have read it through four times and plan to continue reading it. I don't follow the traditional "hours" but read what I can each day. I would recommend this book to anyone who believes that wisdom is often found in one's own heart and yet who feels in need of some direction from ancient, time- honored sources.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gnostic Book of Hours, December 4, 2009

By 

javafusion - See all my reviews

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This review is from: A Gnostic Book of Hours: Keys to Inner Wisdom (Paperback)

The book of hours divides the day into eight periods of guided meditations designed to remind us of the divine presence in our everyday lives. Each period includes seven brief excerpts from Gnostic scripture - one for each day of the week - and is followed by Singer's sage commentary.

Read daily at random, or straight through from beginning to end, these readings and reflections challenge, inspire, and comfort as they call forth the "sparks of divinity" present, though perhaps unrecognized, in every person.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The idea is better than the execution, January 13, 2009

By 

Catriona Esquibel "ktrion" (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: A Gnostic Book of Hours: Keys to Inner Wisdom (Paperback)

I think any book that helps you build a habit of meditation and prayer is useful. Still, I was disappointed in this book. I was excited by the idea of it: excerpts from gnostic gospels and other ancient texts organized by the "hours."

The book is thus divided Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline, with each section containing a different reading in the same text for different days of the week. (Thus Matins contains readings from the Apocryphon of John for Monday, Tuesday,...) If you're practicing just one of the hours, say Matins, then you'll have a certain continuity as you move through the week.

The selected texts are very good, although Singer sometimes lumps two or three separate pieces together for one day (especially with the Gospel of Thomas in Sext) which makes the experience more distracting than meditative. Unfortunately, each text is followed by the editor's reflections, which are not scholarly nor illuminating nor (for me anyway) particularly inspiring. At times she seems to fall into the old anti-Semitism that is the original sin of Christianity, at other times, to flatten out the rich textures. Maybe Singer's analysis is just dated (the volume was first published in 1992).

Do use this book to inspire you to make your OWN book of hours.