The Soul of the World: A Modern Book of Hours

by Phil Cousineau (Editor), Eric Lawton (Editor)

"Contemplation of beauty is hte consolation of hte world." -- from the Introduction A collaboration between a writer/poet and a photographer, The Soul of the World speqaks to our desire for connection and celebration by contemporizing the medieval book of hours--a classical device for "making holy the houirs." Each day is divided into eight periods of guided meditation that trace the natural rhythms of hte day and week, joining the inner world of hte spirit and the outer world of nature and reconnecting our souls with the soul of hte world. POhotographs from around the world--froim sunrise in Darjeeling to midnight in Santa Fe--are paried with eclectic passages by diverse thinkers, including Lao Tzu, Sappho, Hildegard of Beigen, John Keats, Langston Hughes, Anna Akmatova, Jorge Luis Borges, Gary Snyder, Rosario Castellanos, David Brower, adn many more. Juxtaposing eclectic reflections with stunning photographs from around the world, this modern book of hours serves as a "pocket cathedral," creating space for reflection and renewal at any time, in any place.

Genres: Art

160 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1993

About the author

Phil Cousineau is a writer, teacher, editor, independent scholar, documentary filmmaker, travel leader, and storyteller. The author of more than 30 nonfiction books, Cousineau has more than 15 documentary screenwriting credits to his name, including the 1991 Academy Award-nominated Forever Activists. His life-long fascination with art, literature, and the history of culture has taken him on many journeys around the world; one of his bestselling books is The Art of Pilgrimage, inspired by his many years of meaningful travels.

Born in an army hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, Cousineau grew up in Detroit, and has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 30 years. American mythologist Joseph Campbell was a mentor and major influence; Cousineau wrote the documentary film and companion book about Campbell's life, "The Hero's Journey." The “omnipresent influence of myth in modern life” is a thread that runs through all of his work. He lectures frequently on a wide range of topics--from mythology, film, and writing, to sports, creativity, travel, art, and beauty. Currently he is the host of the much-praised “inner travel” television series, Global Spirit, on Link TV and PBS, and is finishing a book on beauty.