This book is one of the best guides to surrender through meditation that I have ever come across. Within a few chapters I found myself addicted to centering prayer. However, the constant need to prove that this meditation is Christian, not Buddhist or Hindu was tiring. Yes, some Christians are terrified of experimenting outside of their faith, but a faith built on fear of loss is no faith of all.

Read and reread; great author, wonderful job with the topic

As good as anything I've read while I immerse myself deeper in Centering Prayer. Ms. Bourgeault wrote an important treatise on this critical Christian discipline.

This book opened my eyes to much that I had just seen the edges of for so long. How and why centering prayer leads to union with God is very well explained. I recommend this book for anyone looking for the underlying reason for the mystic side of the church.

I took a centering prayer retreat for the first time several years ago where I purchased this book (actually I think my sis bought this for me as a thank you for bringing her).

I wish I had read this YEARS ago when I bought it. I feel like she covered in this book a wealth of things that I either missed or were not covered in the workshop. Her theology is sound as well as her more “historical” examples and arguments. (You may not agree with her theology but it is sound, ie - her logic is valid if you agree with the premises.)

I found this book a “page turner” for a spiritual read - which I find isn’t often the case with non-fiction.

To say that it changed hoI think of and how I practice centering prayer would be an understatement.

It’s a 5-star so it’s a definite re-read.

Good book. I felt that it was a comprehensive overview of centering prayer. I particularly appreciated the historical analysis section. It did feel a bit repetitive as someone who had read a different book about centering prayer

This was a profound read for me, especially Chps 12 and 13 on the Inner Observer and the Welcoming Prayer.

Very conflicted over this book. The first few chapters are a very strong and compelling introduction to centering prayer, but the following theological/philosophical discussions were seriously lacking. At times, this book felt like a college student writing to just barely meet a length minimum for a term paper. That’s a bit saddening, as I’m a fan of Cynthia Bourgeault, and Christian mysticism in general. When the book speaks practically, it shines. When it speaks emotionally or theoretically, it leaves much to be desired—which isn’t because there’s not a compelling way to speak on this topic, it seems like it’s more on the author than the subject matter.

Useful both for its concepts and the practical instructions it provides. I will probably use this as a resource for many years to come.

This is a book I got on line from the library. But it is a book one should have and hold and study with indefinitely.

A solid introduction to contemplative/centering prayer, however I’m not sold on the use of Freudian ideas of self to express the idea of inner mystical awakening.

I read this book to acquaint myself further with the concept of centering prayer. Thanks to this book I think I finally understand the depth of that undertaking. I decided to wait on trying it until I am at a different place in my life. There are a few "new agey" and "psychological" terms used in this book which may turn off more orthodox readers. However I think this is an avenue of prayer which is useful to Christian seekers who aren't hampered by orthodoxy and who are ready to divulge into a deeper kind of prayer. This book is a good introduction and I will be sure to return to it once more when I am ready to proceed with Centering Prayer.