Opening The Invitation: The Poem That Has Touched Lives Around the World [Hardcover]

Oriah (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 27, 2004

A beautiful presentation of Oriah's signature prose poem, preceded by a chapter relating the full life story behind the poem and then followed by a chapter on the life of the poem and its remarkable effect on people's lives, including her own.

The prose poem The Invitation was originally passed from reader to reader over the internet and hand–to–hand; it was these readers who helped make the book a best–seller.

This small, beautifully presented book, incorporating the poem and two short additional new chapters by Oriah, gives old and new readers the beloved poem in a fresh way, as a gift for others or oneself. The often moving and sometimes funny chapters give a fresh, full account of how the poem came to be, and then discuss the life of the poem after it was written and circulated to so many readers, via the internet, photocopies, and eventually the full book The Invitation. Artwork will accompany each paragraph of the poem.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In 1993, Mountain Dreamer (her shamanic name) was chatting amiably with her friend Catherine when Catherine suddenly had a brain aneurysm. Although Catherine survived, Mountain Dreamer saw the incident as a spiritual wake-up call, and exactly one year after it happened, she sat down to write the prose poem "The Invitation." After sharing it with several hundred writing students, she lost track of it, only to discover years later that the poem had taken on a life of its own on the Internet. In this illustrated gift book, the now-famous poem (which was first published by HSF in book form in 1999 and became a bestseller) is sandwiched between a foreword and afterword in which Mountain Dreamer describes its simple inception and astounding reception. Perhaps most touching is her account of receiving an admiring letter from a high school beau she had not seen in 30 years. They are now married. Fans of The Invitation will welcome this behind-the-scenes glimpse of the poem's creation.
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About the Author

Oriah is the author of the inspirational prose poem and international bestselling book The Invitation as well as the bestsellers The Dance and The Call. Her writing sets forth in detail how we can follow the thread of our heart's longing into a life of meaning and purpose. Her latest book, What We Ache For: Creativity and the Unfolding of Your Soul, explores creativity as a way of accessing and cultivating a spiritually rich life. Oriah is the mother of two grown sons. She lives with her husband, Jeff, several hours north of Toronto in a home surrounded by forest stillness.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (April 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060593229
• ISBN-13: 978-0060593223
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 4.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #403,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #18 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Fiction & Poetry > Poetry
  • #22 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Reference > Writing > Poetry
  • #29 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Inspirational & Religious

More About the Author

Oriah is the author of the inspirational prose poem and international bestselling book The Invitation as well as the bestsellers The Dance and The Call. Her writing sets forth in detail how we can follow the thread of our heart's longing into a life of meaning and purpose. Her latest book, What We Ache For: Creativity and the Unfolding of Your Soul, explores creativity as a way of accessing and cultivating a spiritually rich life. Oriah is the mother of two grown sons. She lives with her husband, Jeff, several hours north of Toronto in a home surrounded by forest stillness.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gift, April 10, 2010

By 

Dr. Gunta M. Caldwell "Gunta On Silver Wings" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Opening The Invitation: The Poem That Has Touched Lives Around the World (Hardcover)

This book is a gift. No wonder it has touched so many lives. We live in a superficial world of superficiality. Oriah dares us to speak of deeper matters. She dares us to speak of that which we try to avoid. We are scared to speak of feelings, of what we feel and how we are coping. Who speaks that way - who dares? And then if we dare, does the other have the courage to respond? We are afraid beacuse we feel we do not know how to respond. And yet sometimes all we need to do is just be. If we could all live by this invitation we would truly have compassion for each other. Wonderful!!

Dr Gunta Krumins-Caldwell author of On Silver Wings

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heartfelt gift to give, July 7, 2009

By 

Peggy "pab920" (Norfolk, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Opening The Invitation: The Poem That Has Touched Lives Around the World (Hardcover)

I bought a couple of copies of this sweet compact book to give as "no special reason" gifts to close female friends. I think nowadays we all get caught up in our busy lives and often forget to express just how precious our real friends are to us. It's so routine to keep the conversations on challenges at work or with the kids or spouses, or now caring for elderly parents. I think when one reads this book it is a gentle nudge to reassess what we are doing and how we are doing it in our special interpersonal relationships. This is one gift that gives to both the giver and the receiver. Enjoy.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great little book, December 30, 2009

By 

Dibbs Linc (Florida) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Opening The Invitation: The Poem That Has Touched Lives Around the World (Hardcover)

I oredered this little book and it came in no time at all and was in great shape. Nice addition to my family of books. Awesome book.