Soul Desire, by Cameron Butland (Review; Autumn 2021).
Drawing richly on the writings of the desert mothers and fathers, as well as mystics and contemplatives across the intervening centuries, Butland shows how silence, stillness and attentiveness enhance the ‘prayer of the heart’, and outlines five principles and useful practical tips to support our daily prayer lives.
In the Mists on the Shoreline, by Chris Polhill (Review; Autumn 2021).
In this beautiful little book, Polhill shows that spiritual experiences, ‘momentary glimpses of the mystical’, are simply part of what it is to be human. The book openly explores a wide variety of experiences – from a number of ‘ordinary, extraordinary people’ whose encounters with God are at the same time down-to-earth and deeply profound.
The Wilderness Within, and Just Meditation, by Nicholas Buxton (Review; Autumn 2021).
In The Wilderness Within, Buxton explains how silent prayer or meditation simply puts things into perspective, and cultivates an awareness and the detachment we need to be more truly connected with God. Its non-religious sister publication ‘Just Meditation’, shows how silence is also invaluable for our psychological and emotional well-being, and gives useful practical advice for enhancing our meditation practice. Clearly and engagingly written, both books are invitations to ‘live life more fully, with calmness, clarity and compassion’.
Gateways to the Divine, by Andrew Mayes (Review; Autumn 2021).
Having lived, worked and prayed in Jerusalem for many years, Gateways to the Divine gives a rich and fascinating insight into the diverse spiritualities alive within the city today, identifying several common threads that connect these traditions, and encouraging the reader to relate these to their own environments. It finishes with a thought-provoking prayer exercise, as well as the questions for reflection which conclude each chapter, making the book appropriate for group study as well as individual reading.