Invocation is the imagination of a deity and the subsequent identification with this imagined image of the deity. This procedure is one of the basics of magic, because through such an identification one's own possibilities of perception and action become many times greater. This technique goes back to the late Paleolithic Age, when hunters identified themselves with a panther in order to obtain the strength and speed of a panther during their hunt. Later, the grain god was invoked in the Neolithic period, and then the One God was invoked in kingship. The effectiveness of the technique of invocation, of course, like all magical phenomena, cannot be proven by words, but at least described in such a way that you may try this technique yourself. As with almost all things, patience and practice are beneficial, but there are also some methods, such as dream travel, that make the whole thing much easier and more effective.

Peter Kreeft brings his unique insights to this most important area of our spiritual lives. He claims he himself is still a beginner in prayer, and this book is for all those, like him, who feel that they are not good at praying but desire to become much better at it. Thus, Kreeft offers simple, but profound advice and practical steps for developing a prayer life based on the time-tested wisdom of the saints and great spiritual writers, especially the principles found in Brother Lawrence's classic, The Practice of the Presence of God. In short, straight-forward and unsentimental chapters, Kreeft covers all the key areas for understanding and developing that intimate form of communication with our Creator that we call prayer. He covers such areas as the necessity of prayer, various motives and methods, steps, patience, suffering, sin, faith, and grace.

Some may think that the point of prayer is to get our own way with extra-terrestrial help, or to save us from facing the problems of life, or to provide an escape from 'reality', or to give an emotional uplift that makes you feel food. Some may think that prayer is a way of expanding our consciousness which is achieved by our own discipline and personal effort at self-improvement. These are caricatures of what Christian prayer really is. There may be a strand of truth in some of them, but they miss the real point of prayer.

In The Circle of Fire (formerly published as Prayers: A Communion With Our Creator) Ruiz inspires us to enter into a new and loving relationship with ourselves, with our fellow humans, and with all of creation. Through a selection of beautiful essays, prayers, and guided meditations, Ruiz prepares our minds for a new way of seeing life, and opens our hearts to find our way back to our birthright: heaven on earth. The result is a life lived in joy, harmony, and contentment. In my teachings, "The Circle of Fire" ceremony celebrates the most important day of our lives: the day when we merge with the fire of our spirit, and return to our own divinity. This is the day when we recover the awareness of what we really are, and make the choice to live in communion with that force of creation we call "Life" or "God." From that day forward, we live with unconditional love in our hearts for ourselves, for life, for everything in creation. This book, first published in 2001 as "Prayers: A Communion with Our Creator," will remind you of what you really are. It has always been my favorite book, and now in honor of my favorite prayer, it has been appropriately renamed "The Circle of Fire." -- don Miguel Ruiz

The Psalms make up the most popular, most universally loved and used book in the Bible, which is the most widely read book in the world. They are hymns, songs, poems, and prayers—at once formal and informal, liturgical and spontaneous, communal and individual. As a result, they have many layers of meaning. In this work, Peter Kreeft focuses on a dozen of the best-known psalms, including Psalms 23 and 51. He leads the reader through his personal explorations of this deep ocean of divinely inspired spiritual water, pulling up treasures for the soul along the way. "What prayers did Jesus and his disciples pray? The Psalms! As all Jews have always done ever since they had them. The Psalms are God's answer to our plea, 'Teach us to pray.' Christ prayed them not only in the synagogue but throughout His life, and at his death." — Peter Kreeft, from the Introduction

This book has been prepared to assist and remind Muslims how to perform salah, prayer in Islam. It is ideal for new Muslims as it includes pictures, step-by-step instructions, and the words Muslims must recite during the prayer in transliteration and English.

An uplifting guide to powerful prayer The simple act of prayer can give you courage and strength in challenging times, provide answers to life's questions, help you foster a personal connection to a higher power, and fill your heart with profound comfort and peace. But how many of us have been taught how to pray? The art of effective prayer is fully explored in this one-of-a-kind guidebook by award-winning author Richard Webster. Whether you're addressing God, the universe, or your Higher Self, this book on prayer for beginners will help you connect with the divine. Webster offers easy techniques for achieving a state of mind conducive to a meaningful spiritual exchange for complete health and wellness. You'll also discover how prayer is linked to magic, as well as how to strengthen prayers with chakra energy, create a sacred space, pray with a mandala, and communicate with angels. Webster also shares fascinating testimonials—from personal anecdotes to proven scientific experiments—that illuminate the immense power of prayer.