Book Review | How Do You Pray? Inspiring Responses from Religious Leaders, Spiritual Guides, Healers, Activists and Other Leaders of Humanity
Celeste Yacoboni, editor
How Do You Pray? Inspiring Responses from Religious Leaders, Spiritual Guides, Healers, Activists and Other Leaders of Humanity
Monkfish, Rhinebeck, New York 2014
"There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground," observed 13th century poet Rumi. How Do You Pray? is an anthology of one hundred twenty-nine of those ways, representing just as many diverse spiritual paths, including no path at all. Voices include Joan Halifax, Gregg Braden, Arvol Looking Horse, Huston Smith, Matthew Fox, Masuto Emoto, Marianne Williamson and many others, each sharing deep personal responses. Energy healer Donna Eden enters a prayerful state rather than active prayer, sitting on earth with the trees, as appreciation washes through her cells. As a Jew, Rabbi Schachter-Shalomi has liturgy four times daily, which some see as an obligation but to him it's an opportunity. He also gives many blessings throughout the day, including a thank you prayer after going to the bathroom and acknowledging that everything works. Quantum physicist Fred Alan Wolf says he doesn't really take time to pray but feels a special silent contact with God every day. For author Elizabeth Cunningham, "Help, help!" is one of the best prayers she knows. "You just have to be prepared for some bizarre responses."
Gail Lord is a freelance writer living in Massachusetts. Please send book review copies to 51 North Street, Grafton, MA 01519 or email socbookreviewer@gmail.com.
Read more book reviews from the Winter 2014 issue:
Herbs for Stress and Anxiety: How to Make Herbal Remedies to Strengthen the Nervous System
Tuning the Human Biofield: Healing with Vibrational Sound Therapy
The Heal Your Gut Cookbook: Nutrient-Dense Recipes for Intestinal Health Using the GAPS Diet
