Paths To Prayer: Finding Your Own Way To The Presence Of God

"Patricia D. Brown writes about prayer with sensitivity, depth, and comprehensiveness. Most of all, she shares out of her considerable experience, which balances her study of various forms of relating to the divine."
-Wayne Teasdale, member, Board of Trustees of the Parliament of the World's Religions, and author, A Monk in the World: Cultivating a Spiritual Life

"In her remarkable new book, Patricia D. Brown tutors us in the spiritual art of prayer. Gentle, practical, and wise-what a wonderful invitation to the spiritual journey. I can't recommend this book highly enough."
-Lauren Artress, author, Walking a Sacred Path, and canon for special ministries, Grace Cathedral, San Francisco

"Paths to Prayer is a sensitive exploration of the role of prayer in everyday life. No matter which spiritual or religious path you have chosen, you will benefit from this wonderful book."
-Larry Dossey, author, Healing Beyond the Body, Prayer Is Good Medicine, and Healing Words

"We cannot be fulfilled human beings without attention to prayer. Patricia D. Brown's Paths to Prayer is one of the best guides to a richer spiritual life to appear in years."
-Barbara Montgomery Dossey, author, Florence Nightingale: Mystic, Visionary, Healer; Holistic Nursing: A Handbook for Practice; and Rituals of Healing

"This is an excellent book for beginners and the proficient alike."
-Andrew Dreitcer, associate professor of spirituality and director of spiritual formation, Claremont School of Theology, and associate professor of religion, Claremont Graduate University

"Paths to Prayer aids us in our quest to discover prayer forms that create in us space forGod."
-Joe Driskill, assistant professor of spirituality and assistant dean, Disciples Seminary Foundation, Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, California

With step-by-step instructions for over forty ways to pray, this valuable guide contains a wealth of timeless spiritual prayer practices that Christians have used over the last 2000 years from cultures around the world. Among the prayer practices you'll encounter in this book are the daily office, the prayer shawl, praying with icons, centering prayer, fasting, prayer beads, walking a labyrinth, pilgrimage, anointing for healing, and praying the scriptures.

"Paths to Prayer" offers a whole-person approach to prayer that takes into account each person's individuality and doesn't assume we all relate to God in the same way. A prayer styles self-assessment will help you reflect on your life, your preferences, and your unique way of interacting with the world. Try new dimensions of praying-- innovative, searching, relational, and experiential-- to deepen your encounter with the divine.