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A Book of Pagan Prayer
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.
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2002
147 people are currently reading
2029 people want to read
About the author
Ceisiwr Serith
14 books51 followersI have been married since 1981 and a father of a daughter since 1982. My wife is simply amazing; quite easily the smartest and nicest person I have ever known. She has a very successful career as a vice-president at an insurance company and as an actuary, a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. On top of all this, she is cute. I don't just mean cute in a physical sense (although she is). Cute is as cute does, and she does cute. I sometimes wonder how I ever won her.
My daughter is, of course, equally amazing. As well as being beautiful (not just my and my wife’s opinion, by the way), she is brilliant. She speaks Spanish fluently, and shows an interest in languages in general that makes me very happy. Like her mother, she has a big heart, but like her father she still can accept some of the hard facts of the world without blinking. I hope this will come in handy in her chosen field of social work. She's a truly amazing combination of the best of both of us, with her own mysterious nature added.
I myself was born in 1957, in North Tonawanda, NY, and spent my early years in Tonawanda. These two towns, separated by the Erie Canal (they are, in fact, where the canal really ends, despite what the song says), are delightful reminders of a nicer time. Visiting them is like taking a trip back in time.
I didn’t live there long, though, since my father was in the Air Force. We lived in a number of places, including Germany. It was while we were there that I went to Berlin. This was while the Wall was still up, and I was privileged to see it, and to cross it into East Berlin. The contrast between the two was shocking -- the West, a vibrant, colorful, living city, and the East, a city of grey, with rubble left over the WWII, even then in the late 60s. When I was taking classes at the University of Massachusetts years later, I would see Communist students handing out copies of the Daily Worker, and I would want to shake them and scream, "You've never been to East Berlin. You've never seen the Wall."
For college I went to Holy Cross, a good Catholic school, where I met my wife. I received a degree in psychology, with a secondary concentration in Eastern religions, in 1979. The fact that after twenty-five or so years my training in psychology is obsolete leaves me with mixed feelings. I am grateful, however, that pyschology majors were required to take a course in statistics. That has stood me in good stead, and I think that everyone should be required to take it, on at least a high school level. We are confronted daily with statistics -- polls, gambling odds, and such -- but few of us really understand them. Many people still believe that if a series of coin flips has come up consistently heads, the odds against the next flip coming up heads are greater than 50%, or that the odds against a shuffled deck of cards being in order by suit and number are greater than those against any other order. Just the other day I read how in a poll the majority of people polled believed in one thing, with the breakdown something like 49/47%, with the rest undecided. A plurality rather than a majority, but it was even worse; the error of measurement was 4%. In other words, statistcally speaking, the question was tied. People should know these things. But I digress.
After college I served in the Air Force myself, as a communications officer, stationed in England. (I had gone to college on a ROTC scholarship.) My wife and I developed a love for England and the English, and have been back a number of times. We have even considered living there after my wife retires.
I served my hitch in the Air Force and got out. I won't say that the Air Force and I parted on the best of terms, but I know that both of us seemed relieved. My wife and I didn’t like the idea of someone else raising our daughter in daycare, so we decided one of us would stay home and take care of her and the house. My wife wanted to try the working world. Fortunately, I was quite eag
My daughter is, of course, equally amazing. As well as being beautiful (not just my and my wife’s opinion, by the way), she is brilliant. She speaks Spanish fluently, and shows an interest in languages in general that makes me very happy. Like her mother, she has a big heart, but like her father she still can accept some of the hard facts of the world without blinking. I hope this will come in handy in her chosen field of social work. She's a truly amazing combination of the best of both of us, with her own mysterious nature added.
I myself was born in 1957, in North Tonawanda, NY, and spent my early years in Tonawanda. These two towns, separated by the Erie Canal (they are, in fact, where the canal really ends, despite what the song says), are delightful reminders of a nicer time. Visiting them is like taking a trip back in time.
I didn’t live there long, though, since my father was in the Air Force. We lived in a number of places, including Germany. It was while we were there that I went to Berlin. This was while the Wall was still up, and I was privileged to see it, and to cross it into East Berlin. The contrast between the two was shocking -- the West, a vibrant, colorful, living city, and the East, a city of grey, with rubble left over the WWII, even then in the late 60s. When I was taking classes at the University of Massachusetts years later, I would see Communist students handing out copies of the Daily Worker, and I would want to shake them and scream, "You've never been to East Berlin. You've never seen the Wall."
For college I went to Holy Cross, a good Catholic school, where I met my wife. I received a degree in psychology, with a secondary concentration in Eastern religions, in 1979. The fact that after twenty-five or so years my training in psychology is obsolete leaves me with mixed feelings. I am grateful, however, that pyschology majors were required to take a course in statistics. That has stood me in good stead, and I think that everyone should be required to take it, on at least a high school level. We are confronted daily with statistics -- polls, gambling odds, and such -- but few of us really understand them. Many people still believe that if a series of coin flips has come up consistently heads, the odds against the next flip coming up heads are greater than 50%, or that the odds against a shuffled deck of cards being in order by suit and number are greater than those against any other order. Just the other day I read how in a poll the majority of people polled believed in one thing, with the breakdown something like 49/47%, with the rest undecided. A plurality rather than a majority, but it was even worse; the error of measurement was 4%. In other words, statistcally speaking, the question was tied. People should know these things. But I digress.
After college I served in the Air Force myself, as a communications officer, stationed in England. (I had gone to college on a ROTC scholarship.) My wife and I developed a love for England and the English, and have been back a number of times. We have even considered living there after my wife retires.
I served my hitch in the Air Force and got out. I won't say that the Air Force and I parted on the best of terms, but I know that both of us seemed relieved. My wife and I didn’t like the idea of someone else raising our daughter in daycare, so we decided one of us would stay home and take care of her and the house. My wife wanted to try the working world. Fortunately, I was quite eag
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
January 22, 2009
There are a million bibles floating around troops in Iraq. People send us them, there are government created ones, soldier's bibles, cammo bibles, and more. I carried this around with me while on deployment. It was a great little book to have. I am thankful for it.
July 23, 2016
When I was young, I had a little copy of the New Testiment, probably given to me by Witness or other person spreading the "Good News"... It was, on a purely physical level, beautiful to me. It was small, easily clutched in the hand, had exuisite silky pages and a sturdy, but soft binding etc etc. I would read it before bed, just to experience the sensation of holding it my hand... its contents, however, never inspired me.
Today, I was having a sad morning, was feeling a bout of depression, and then the postman delivered into my hands something wonderful.
It was a book, its physical beauty not far from my old New Testament... it is a book to be clutched, carried close and reverently referenced. Its contents, however, are not the mysterious gobeldygook of the Gospels of John, Paul or Ringo, but instead, a collection of prayers useful to a pagan like me. The contents speak to me in a way that kneeling in a church never did and the author does not leave us with just these prayers but gives insights into the reasons and the methods that pagans may chose for their prayers. It seems to me that this is the sort of book that will reveal something new every time it is opened, even if you've already read it cover to cover. There are general prayers, prayers for different purposes from thanksgiving to rites of passage to simply devotional, prayers to many deities from many pantheons (in just a quick flipping through the pages showed me Roman, Norse, Celtic, Egyptian, Native American, and even Asian names among others I couldn't place.)
I have a feeling this book will be one that I will treasure for some time to come.
Today, I was having a sad morning, was feeling a bout of depression, and then the postman delivered into my hands something wonderful.
It was a book, its physical beauty not far from my old New Testament... it is a book to be clutched, carried close and reverently referenced. Its contents, however, are not the mysterious gobeldygook of the Gospels of John, Paul or Ringo, but instead, a collection of prayers useful to a pagan like me. The contents speak to me in a way that kneeling in a church never did and the author does not leave us with just these prayers but gives insights into the reasons and the methods that pagans may chose for their prayers. It seems to me that this is the sort of book that will reveal something new every time it is opened, even if you've already read it cover to cover. There are general prayers, prayers for different purposes from thanksgiving to rites of passage to simply devotional, prayers to many deities from many pantheons (in just a quick flipping through the pages showed me Roman, Norse, Celtic, Egyptian, Native American, and even Asian names among others I couldn't place.)
I have a feeling this book will be one that I will treasure for some time to come.
January 2, 2009
This book is greatly needed in my opinion as modern Paganism focuses too much on magic and not enough on prayer and relationships to the Deities. Serith suggests how to approach the gods, and the theology/history behind prayer. Not only does he include lovely prayers for a variety of occasions and deities from different cultures but also gives tips on how to create your own prayers. It's also small and handy for traveling or ministry/public advocacy.
Recommended to any Pagan, both beginners and advanced!
Recommended to any Pagan, both beginners and advanced!
September 10, 2020
Frankly, I have a somewhat complicated relationship with this book.
On one hand, I really enjoyed the instructions on how to compose prayers, litanies and mantras. On the other hand, I didn't appreciate the Wiccan, almost scolding tone that the author felt the need to inject throughout so much of it.
Perhaps most egregiously for me was the part where he called Hekate a dangerous deity of destruction. Calling any deity dangerous is disingenuous and a pagan should know better than that; it's also abundantly clear that he knows very little outside of his preferred pantheon of Celtic deities. Hekate is a Goddess of many, many things and I found his perception bordering on offensive and I do not say that word lightly.
Not all pagans are Wiccan, but he certainly seems to think that we're all Wiccans who want to follow his rather narrow-minded viewpoint.
I discovered this book a couple of years ago when I was looking for prayers for the Hellenic pantheon, it didn't fit the bill unfortunately. Luckily, I soon discovered the Orphic Hymns and my needs were met.
My two stars are only for the information on composition that I found useful. There are some fairly nice prayers in here, but they don't fit my required purpose for the most part. If you're a Celtic Wiccan, you'll probably love this book, alas... I'm not.
Perhaps this book will come in handy for me when dealing with chaplain duties--I don't deny that there will be others who will gain far more from this book than myself.
On one hand, I really enjoyed the instructions on how to compose prayers, litanies and mantras. On the other hand, I didn't appreciate the Wiccan, almost scolding tone that the author felt the need to inject throughout so much of it.
Perhaps most egregiously for me was the part where he called Hekate a dangerous deity of destruction. Calling any deity dangerous is disingenuous and a pagan should know better than that; it's also abundantly clear that he knows very little outside of his preferred pantheon of Celtic deities. Hekate is a Goddess of many, many things and I found his perception bordering on offensive and I do not say that word lightly.
Not all pagans are Wiccan, but he certainly seems to think that we're all Wiccans who want to follow his rather narrow-minded viewpoint.
I discovered this book a couple of years ago when I was looking for prayers for the Hellenic pantheon, it didn't fit the bill unfortunately. Luckily, I soon discovered the Orphic Hymns and my needs were met.
My two stars are only for the information on composition that I found useful. There are some fairly nice prayers in here, but they don't fit my required purpose for the most part. If you're a Celtic Wiccan, you'll probably love this book, alas... I'm not.
Perhaps this book will come in handy for me when dealing with chaplain duties--I don't deny that there will be others who will gain far more from this book than myself.
December 24, 2019
While the endeavor to provide the Pagan community with examples of how prayer can be a strong part of our practices is a noble one, this title falls short.
My first complaint is that the author leaves no room for the Pagans who are not Polytheistic. For those of us who have relationship with Deity as an animist, for example, the prayers are limited. The description of how and why Pagans pray lacks needed nuance that would welcome those with different views on Deity.
The second aspect I found frustrating was the use of "should" instead of "could". The author does a lot of dictating what is proper and right. It gives the reader a distasteful sense of obligation to practices that might not fit their path or their relationship with Deity.
Some of the prayers are nice. There were a few lines that inspired me. But on the whole they weren't really enough for me to adapt or use in my practice.
My first complaint is that the author leaves no room for the Pagans who are not Polytheistic. For those of us who have relationship with Deity as an animist, for example, the prayers are limited. The description of how and why Pagans pray lacks needed nuance that would welcome those with different views on Deity.
The second aspect I found frustrating was the use of "should" instead of "could". The author does a lot of dictating what is proper and right. It gives the reader a distasteful sense of obligation to practices that might not fit their path or their relationship with Deity.
Some of the prayers are nice. There were a few lines that inspired me. But on the whole they weren't really enough for me to adapt or use in my practice.
March 2, 2009
I really didn't think I would like the book. I bought it a while back because it was written by Ceisiwr Serith, who has a website about the Proto-Indo-Europeans and then I realized that it was mostly Wiccan. I changed my mind by the end of the book.
The book starts out by explaining why pagans need to pray and make offerings and goes on to explain how to do that. He also explains how to use what you know about a god and goddess to help you write your own prayers.
The selection of prayers he offers are really good, and very much inspiring, so even if I didn't use the prayers themselves I would have ideas on prayers. He has gone out of his way to make the prayers appeal to everyone, on any path.
What impressed me the most was the list of references at the end of the book. The resources he used to write the book are all well known and respected in scholarly circles.
In my opinion this book is a much needed resource for pagans of all paths.
The book starts out by explaining why pagans need to pray and make offerings and goes on to explain how to do that. He also explains how to use what you know about a god and goddess to help you write your own prayers.
The selection of prayers he offers are really good, and very much inspiring, so even if I didn't use the prayers themselves I would have ideas on prayers. He has gone out of his way to make the prayers appeal to everyone, on any path.
What impressed me the most was the list of references at the end of the book. The resources he used to write the book are all well known and respected in scholarly circles.
In my opinion this book is a much needed resource for pagans of all paths.
January 26, 2018
This is my most cherished book of all-time. I purchased A Book of Pagan Prayer as a teenager and it quickly became a staple of my practice. In addition to prayers, this book also offers a meaningful perspective on living as a Pagan; it has only become more meaningful to me as I get older. In fact, this book continued to live in my nightstand and comfort me even when I wasn't a practicing Pagan!
May 22, 2025
Some things resonated, others did not. Lots of good prayers though, and good discussion on the meaning and purpose of prayer. I liked how many of them were gratitude centered.
August 14, 2021
As a witch practicing folk witchcraft, I found much of this book unrelateable. It is a well-written book and the author has done a fine job of creating this work. It’s detailed, well researched, and carefully organized. It’s got a wealth of prayers to call upon depending on the need. And if my path was the same as those whom the book was written for - Wiccans, Pagans, and polytheists - this book would be a great reference to have in any personal library.
I do, however, find some of the ideas in the book curious, such as the author’s assertion that none of us would want to worship a god if that god wasn’t superior to us. Additionally, I struggle with the author’s belief that the body and spirit are inherently unclean and must be purified before we can pray. I’m also not terribly comfortable with the idea that gods are male and goddesses are female. Gender is, after all, a human social construct. (Even the God of the Christian Bible refers to themselves as “they” in many parts of the Bible.) I also don’t align with the very strong approach to the worshipping of gods that this book supports (and this is despite a clear acknowledgment from the author that some practitioners using this book may themselves be uncomfortable with appearing subservient to gods).
My intention with this book had been to use the section on writing one’s own prayers to craft my own prayers for spiritworking and for my ancestors. But as many of the prayers assume the reader worships gods - which I do not - I didn’t find the book terribly useful for my purposes. I thought perhaps I could even modify some of the suggested prayers for my own uses. But the focus on the Wiccan Lord and the Lady or gods from various European pantheons makes modifying the prayers for my folk witchcraft purposes mostly useless.
Overall, this book is better suited to Wiccans and Pagans whose beliefs align with worshiping gods and following a gender binary when it comes to gods and goddesses. It may even be useful to some Christian witches.
I do, however, find some of the ideas in the book curious, such as the author’s assertion that none of us would want to worship a god if that god wasn’t superior to us. Additionally, I struggle with the author’s belief that the body and spirit are inherently unclean and must be purified before we can pray. I’m also not terribly comfortable with the idea that gods are male and goddesses are female. Gender is, after all, a human social construct. (Even the God of the Christian Bible refers to themselves as “they” in many parts of the Bible.) I also don’t align with the very strong approach to the worshipping of gods that this book supports (and this is despite a clear acknowledgment from the author that some practitioners using this book may themselves be uncomfortable with appearing subservient to gods).
My intention with this book had been to use the section on writing one’s own prayers to craft my own prayers for spiritworking and for my ancestors. But as many of the prayers assume the reader worships gods - which I do not - I didn’t find the book terribly useful for my purposes. I thought perhaps I could even modify some of the suggested prayers for my own uses. But the focus on the Wiccan Lord and the Lady or gods from various European pantheons makes modifying the prayers for my folk witchcraft purposes mostly useless.
Overall, this book is better suited to Wiccans and Pagans whose beliefs align with worshiping gods and following a gender binary when it comes to gods and goddesses. It may even be useful to some Christian witches.
August 19, 2009
This book was heavy on Wicca, Celtic gods, and vagueness. While I'm sure this would be an excellent resource for Wiccans and Wiccan-inspired people, for an animist, not really useful.
February 13, 2023
The prayers in this book are pretty clunky and awkwardly worded. I just wasn't a fan. I wouldn't personally use any of these as is. However, I did heavily alter a few of them to use for my own incantations. Although, I changed almost every word of the original. I wouldn't personally recommend this book, unless you don't care about the flow of your mantras/prayers. Personally, they prayers were cringe to read, let alone say aloud.
Glad that I read this though. Helped inspire some new incantations of my own. Hope this helps! 🖤
Glad that I read this though. Helped inspire some new incantations of my own. Hope this helps! 🖤
November 2, 2016
A Book of Pagan prayer is an invaluable resource for the spiritual Pagan. Ceisiwr Serith begins this gem of a book with thoughts on the role of prayer in Pagan life, how to and preparations for prayer, types of prayer, and composing prayers. These first four chapters share solid information on incorporating prayer into individual Pagan practice.
Refugees from "Bells and Smells Christianity" will recognize this for a prayer book. It is designed for frequent use, with a thick, water-resistance cover, and sized to fit nicely in the hand. The prayer categories offered cover many aspects of life including:
~ family
~ times of the day
~ times of the month
~ times of the year
~ times of life
~ thanksgiving prayers and graces
~ petitionary prayers and blessings
~ litanies and mantras
I recommend this to anyone seeking to deepen their Pagan experience.
Refugees from "Bells and Smells Christianity" will recognize this for a prayer book. It is designed for frequent use, with a thick, water-resistance cover, and sized to fit nicely in the hand. The prayer categories offered cover many aspects of life including:
~ family
~ times of the day
~ times of the month
~ times of the year
~ times of life
~ thanksgiving prayers and graces
~ petitionary prayers and blessings
~ litanies and mantras
I recommend this to anyone seeking to deepen their Pagan experience.
April 12, 2011
This is a very useful book to have. One doesn't have to worship from all of the different patheons mentioned to use this book as a tool. The introductory material can be utilized by anyone with a rich, physical prayer life, including Christians and Pagans.
Many of the prayers in the second half of this book are quite beautiful, and what I like about it is that they are easily adaptable to serve your particular needs. Owning this book might just encourage you to write your own prayers.
I don't think I would pray through this book front to back, but it is a great foundational work. I like that it is a Pagan book that is not just about spellwork but explores how Pagans actually talk to their deities.
Many of the prayers in the second half of this book are quite beautiful, and what I like about it is that they are easily adaptable to serve your particular needs. Owning this book might just encourage you to write your own prayers.
I don't think I would pray through this book front to back, but it is a great foundational work. I like that it is a Pagan book that is not just about spellwork but explores how Pagans actually talk to their deities.
December 5, 2019
While by no means perfect, this book fills a huge gap in the pagan spirituality canon. Despite the rather unwieldy number of prayers in this book, it felt far from encyclopedic and the author cherry-picked deities from various (mostly European) pantheons. It is definitely aimed more toward polytheists than non-polytheistic pagans, so I found only a limited number of prayers that felt appropriate to my worship practice. But I really appreciated the lack of corny, sing-song, poorly metered "charms" that normally proliferate in pagan literature.
March 1, 2020
A breakdown on why prayer can be useful in one’s practice, as well as several example prayers on different subjects that can be used as a jumping-off point for developing one’s own. I will be honest that I preferred the first part of the book. The example prayers themselves really did nothing for me.
May 7, 2021
The language isn't my chosen language so a lot of the prayers don't speak to me, but it's a really comprehensive collection of prayer that might better suit someone who uses more traditional pagan language. :)
December 26, 2007
I like to hold this book and use it for inspiration but honestly some of the prose and poetry is just, well... bad. Sorry.
November 14, 2012
Finally, a book of prayer for Neo-pagans, that isn't exclusively Wiccan. Huzzah! Highly recommended.
December 20, 2017
I read this for one purpose only: to understand why folks pray. I've only known the grovelling prayers of the head-covered, trembling, fearful disciples of [fill in oppressive deity here]. What are these Pagans praying for? Aren't they supposed to be equal to gods and goddesses?
This book explained things really, really well for me. Basically this: you check in with your friends about how you're feeling/what's going on in your life; why wouldn't you do the same for a deity? And there are many deities, many manifestations, to whom you can call on and address concerns/comments. They can help. No beseeching required.
I dig the whole take-care-of-your-surroundings belief of Paganism. I think the Earth is a pretty big deal and deserves some respect. But I'm not convinced it's inhabited by fairies. I'd like to believe it, though.
I guess one needs to have a belief that the prayers have an ear, so to speak. Sometimes it's enough to just voice concerns in an open space but others one needs to feel like the information is being processed and you're empathized with. This book didn't do that but it didn't set out to do that. It was my secret hope.
What the author does do brilliantly is lay out the types of prayers and give some for occasions, times of the year, emergencies, etc. I wish the chapter on mantras had been longer because I'm kind of in to them for good-luck-rituals sake. But if you're trying to construct a personal practice (of any religion) and need some guidance about what to say and when to say it, you can't beat this as a starting point.
I can't believe I liked this as much as I did.
This book explained things really, really well for me. Basically this: you check in with your friends about how you're feeling/what's going on in your life; why wouldn't you do the same for a deity? And there are many deities, many manifestations, to whom you can call on and address concerns/comments. They can help. No beseeching required.
I dig the whole take-care-of-your-surroundings belief of Paganism. I think the Earth is a pretty big deal and deserves some respect. But I'm not convinced it's inhabited by fairies. I'd like to believe it, though.
I guess one needs to have a belief that the prayers have an ear, so to speak. Sometimes it's enough to just voice concerns in an open space but others one needs to feel like the information is being processed and you're empathized with. This book didn't do that but it didn't set out to do that. It was my secret hope.
What the author does do brilliantly is lay out the types of prayers and give some for occasions, times of the year, emergencies, etc. I wish the chapter on mantras had been longer because I'm kind of in to them for good-luck-rituals sake. But if you're trying to construct a personal practice (of any religion) and need some guidance about what to say and when to say it, you can't beat this as a starting point.
I can't believe I liked this as much as I did.
August 24, 2024
an interesting read--the author's wiccan perspective is painfully obvious, and colours nearly everything in this book. the very specific sections discussing actual prayer composition were decent, but the heavily dualistic wiccan focus hangs over everything. other comments have pointed out the limited animist scope and i'm inclined to agree, though with the author's perspective and experience i think it would've been difficult for them to expand on this satisfactorily--the main focus is on more traditional conceptualizations of "deity". the author does make some attempt to leave things open for readers to adapt and develop their own prayers from what's in the book, but there's a narrow scope of wiccan ethics regarding what's "right" and what "should" be done that comes through consistently
overall some useful info, but if you aren't wiccan this involves a lot of sifting through to find the tidbits amidst filler
overall some useful info, but if you aren't wiccan this involves a lot of sifting through to find the tidbits amidst filler
October 8, 2020
A lot of people really love this book and I just was not into it. I'm not sure what the problem was: I don't find the author's language particularly engaging? I feel like his prayers are sort of bland? I remember when the whole neo-pagan community was filching out of Carmina Gadelica and I am perfectly capable of doing that work for myself? I don't remember the whole neo-pagan community filching from the Orphic or Homeric hymns, but again, I am perfectly capable of doing that work for myself (and don't feel like I found that here anyway)?
I think one of the problems is that the author's dealings with all of the gods in the text feels very mix-and-match. While I realize that he was trying to create a book that could be used by any neo-pagan, I think that might have been better served by using fewer prayers to specific deities.
I think one of the problems is that the author's dealings with all of the gods in the text feels very mix-and-match. While I realize that he was trying to create a book that could be used by any neo-pagan, I think that might have been better served by using fewer prayers to specific deities.
April 3, 2021
This is a really lovely book about how and why prayer should and could be introduced into Neo-Pagan practices~ The first part of the book talks about how to make your own prayers, and the second part gives examples of prayers you can use or alter for your own uses.
There were a lot of different deities mentioned from several pantheons, and it was nice to see so many brought together in one book. Some of the prayers were so touching that I'm planning on incorporating them into my own practice. One of my favorites was...
I drop my fears into your ocean
and watch them sink from sight
I place my fears on your broad Earth
and see them rot away
I put my fears into your hands
and they are no more
When you offer your arms to me,
Great Mother,
your hands hold nothing but love
A beautiful book and a fun read even if you aren't convinced about pagan prayers and praying.
There were a lot of different deities mentioned from several pantheons, and it was nice to see so many brought together in one book. Some of the prayers were so touching that I'm planning on incorporating them into my own practice. One of my favorites was...
I drop my fears into your ocean
and watch them sink from sight
I place my fears on your broad Earth
and see them rot away
I put my fears into your hands
and they are no more
When you offer your arms to me,
Great Mother,
your hands hold nothing but love
A beautiful book and a fun read even if you aren't convinced about pagan prayers and praying.
February 24, 2023
Not a bad primer for new pagans, but some of the information in the book is questionable. Covering such a broad range definitely impacts the depth needed for really digging into the prayers. For instance, two of the prayers recognize Thor as the enemy of Fenrir, when the lore pits Thor against Jormungandr, not Fenrir, who is supposedly slain by Vidar. He also involves quite a bit of Wicca and New-Age ideas even into the non-Wicca sections. He refers to the lore of Wicca many times and seems to conflate it with IE lore, specifically using a book by Bruce Lincoln in which Lincoln repudiates the idea of an "original" PIE set of myths. So, a useful book in terms of thinking about prayer and worship, but if you're a polytheist who doesn't see your gods in the strict binaries of Wicca or the monotheisms, then take this book with a big helping of salt.
February 15, 2021
The first few chapters on what is prayer and why we pray are very thought provoking. Overall, the book was a great read. I appreciate that the author took the time to branch out into several pantheons/hearths when relating prayers and types of prayers to show aspects/preferences of different gods. I also appreciate that the author delved into situations and scenarios as well as composition and creation options. What better way to pray than to use what's available until you find your own voice and create for yourself. There is much more depth needed to get there, but this book is a great start.
November 23, 2021
Important to note is that this is *A* book of prayers, not *the* book of prayers. For a non-pagan such as myself who was reading purely for research reasons, this is something to know beforehand -- which is information most actual pagans would have. While there are some actual canonical prayers out there, this book doesn't collect them.
What it does is explain pagan prayers, mantras, litanies, and the like as well as how to construct them. There is also a bit of commentary about neo-pagans and essentially how they're young and just don't get it yet. (My words, not the author's.) This is a good primer on prayers and offerings. Worth reading for the curious and beginners.
What it does is explain pagan prayers, mantras, litanies, and the like as well as how to construct them. There is also a bit of commentary about neo-pagans and essentially how they're young and just don't get it yet. (My words, not the author's.) This is a good primer on prayers and offerings. Worth reading for the curious and beginners.
June 21, 2017
Great information about praying. Different kinds of praying and different ways to work it into your life. The information is accompanied by a large number of examples that run the gamut of neo-pagan traditions and deities. I withheld a star because I found only a few of the prayers really calling to me to be underlined for later use. This isn't to say the book won't be useful, but it will take several read-throughs and some re-writing until they hit my own personal sweet spot. This still feels like a foundational book to put on any pagans shelf.
November 2, 2023
I found Serith's writing style to take it for granted that deity is something in reality but then admits it requires states of altered cognition to see. This is not how to discover things that are real. They come across as priest to a layperson rather than equal to equal. The one saving grace is that it has allowed me to make a framework to construct my rituals from and helped me to understand my SOs rituals.
May 14, 2024
This little book is a perfect addition to my shelves and my ever growing thirst for knowledge. I easily read this within the span of a few hours. I needed a break from the heavy works of fiction I so dearly love, and this book was next in line. I wrote down a morning and nighttime prayer! These two prayers spoke to me more than the others, and I shall be reciting them for the next foreseeable future.
May 27, 2024
I had this book for a while but never looked at it. The book cover variety of topics and are relevant and prayer that one would use. There are some that are to specific deities and some are not. I have discovered some beautiful prayer that I can connect to.
I sit still, that my motion may not
Hide your presence
I do not speak, that my words may not
Hide your voice
I will my thoughts still,
That my thinking might not
Block your arrival
I sit still, that my motion may not
Hide your presence
I do not speak, that my words may not
Hide your voice
I will my thoughts still,
That my thinking might not
Block your arrival
February 24, 2025
I don't agree with how the author view our relationship with the gods, and some of these things and prayers seem too subservient to me. However, the book was about prayer and not about metaphysics, hence the rating. I think the book does an excellent job helping you create prayers, and incorporating them into ritual and in your daily life which not only I thing it's valuable but also might help people who want to do rituals and be ritualistic but are pressed for time.
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