What do you think?
Rate this book
Breath Prayer: An Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred
"Breath Prayer is an insightful guide to reclaiming this practice of the heart--harmonizing the sacred rhythm of the body with words that sing to the soul--in every moment of the day." --Carl McColman, author of The New Big Book of Christian Mysticism and Eternal Heart
Whether reciting the gathas in Buddhist practice, the Shema in Judaism, or the Jesus Prayer in Christianity, for centuries the practice of breath prayer has helped center people from a variety of faith traditions on the sacred in everyday life. Through brief words of prayer or petition said silently to the rhythm of one's breath, this simple, meditative act combines praise for the divine with focused intention, creating a profound spiritual connection in the quiet, and even mundane, moments of the day .
In Breath Prayer, Christine Valters Paintner, online abbess of Abbey of the Arts, introduces us to this spiritual practice and offers beautiful poem-prayers for walking, working, dressing, cleaning, sitting in silence, doing the dishes, living in community--breathing the divine into our daily lives. Over time these recitations become as natural as breathing. We don't so much recite the prayers as the prayers recite us, guide us, and open our hearts to the everyday sacred.
With each of the forty prayers, Paintner includes reflections on life's ordinary beauty and heartfelt advice for discovering the sacred all around. Breath Prayer concludes with guidance for creating your own breath prayers to deepen your practice.
Whether reciting the gathas in Buddhist practice, the Shema in Judaism, or the Jesus Prayer in Christianity, for centuries the practice of breath prayer has helped center people from a variety of faith traditions on the sacred in everyday life. Through brief words of prayer or petition said silently to the rhythm of one's breath, this simple, meditative act combines praise for the divine with focused intention, creating a profound spiritual connection in the quiet, and even mundane, moments of the day .
In Breath Prayer, Christine Valters Paintner, online abbess of Abbey of the Arts, introduces us to this spiritual practice and offers beautiful poem-prayers for walking, working, dressing, cleaning, sitting in silence, doing the dishes, living in community--breathing the divine into our daily lives. Over time these recitations become as natural as breathing. We don't so much recite the prayers as the prayers recite us, guide us, and open our hearts to the everyday sacred.
With each of the forty prayers, Paintner includes reflections on life's ordinary beauty and heartfelt advice for discovering the sacred all around. Breath Prayer concludes with guidance for creating your own breath prayers to deepen your practice.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 12, 2021
55 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Christine Valters Paintner
31 books143 followersChristine Valters Paintner, PhD is the online Abbess at AbbeyoftheArts.com, a virtual monastery and global community. She is the author of over 20 books on contemplative practice and creative expression including three collections of poetry. She lives in Galway, Ireland where she leads online retreats with her husband John. Christine is a Benedictine oblate, living out her commitment as a monk in the world.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 23, 2023
This book was wonderful! I've been really loving the practice of breath prayer- of praying like the saints and using my whole being/body, not just vocal words. This book offered a lot of unique breath prayers for different moments in life and I hope I can remember them when needed!
October 12, 2021
When I opened Breath Prayer I was immediately drawn into the presence of the Sacred. Christine has done a wonderful job not only of giving a wonderful backdrop to the practice itself; she has written/shared some beautiful "sacred moments" that are to be savored. This wonderful collection of prayers is definitely a must have for those who are new to breath prayer as well as for those who have a great depth of experience with it.
October 16, 2021
Oh my goodness! I love this book! I find myself repeating “Breathe in peace, breathe out love” throughout each day. It gives me a sense of calm in the midst of chaos. In my classroom, I silently say this breath prayer and my students think I’m just breathing! I can now pray at school all day long! It’s a physical, emotional, and spiritual respite. I’ve recently become devoted to contemplative prayer, but breath prayer is something I can do on Zoom meetings, in the grocery story, while driving, walking my dog, basically anywhere - to regain peace and calm. This is a little book, but oh so powerful. It’s really life changing.
October 12, 2021
This book is beyond beautiful - the breath prayer practices are a braid of grounding embodiment and deepening contemplation.
If you've never encountered Christine Valters Painter's work before, this book introduces many of the themes she circles around.
If you are familiar with her other books, Breath Prayer is a poetic and practical companion.
This is a book to be savored. I haven't finished with it yet - but not because it isn't compelling. Instead, I'm reading a section or two each day, letting the reflections and invitations settle in my body.
Truly a gift.
If you've never encountered Christine Valters Painter's work before, this book introduces many of the themes she circles around.
If you are familiar with her other books, Breath Prayer is a poetic and practical companion.
This is a book to be savored. I haven't finished with it yet - but not because it isn't compelling. Instead, I'm reading a section or two each day, letting the reflections and invitations settle in my body.
Truly a gift.
February 18, 2025
I guess it’s my fault that I assumed this was an actual Christian book lol. I liked the first section on history and presence and gratitude but did not connect to the rest of the book bc I was put off by its vague spiritualness. But I also see this book being great for certain people. I want to do this practice more but will just not draw directly from this book 😬
October 14, 2021
This book is a gem. It is so accessible, and one to pick up at any time during the day or night. Christine offers pithy yet simple and gentle suggestions for connecting with our breath to deepen awareness and connection to the Divine who is always present and available to us. I highly recommend this to anyone wanting to experience the sacred in the every day, mundane flow of life.
May 21, 2023
I enjoyed the breath prayers in each chapter. The simplicity of the book is lovely. While looking for a book of breath prayers, I wasn’t necessarily looking for rituals in my breath prayers, but this book offers mindfulness in the mundane and ordinary.
December 23, 2022
A really good introduction to breath prayer and mantra practice.
December 6, 2023
Loved it ...
October 12, 2021
When I first received my copy of Christine Valters Paintner’s new book “Breath Prayer”, I had no idea of the depth of support it was going to be for me just a couple of weeks later. I was drawn to the book because in my Centering Prayer practice, I use the breath as my touchstone. Doing this for a number of years has made me interested to learn more about various approaches to Breath Prayer.
Initially, I meandered through some of the offerings in the book - a breath prayer for this daily task, a breath prayer for that state of being; delighting in carrying a chosen breath prayer around with me for the day, it helping me ground and connect to the Divine within.
And then I got COVID. As did my husband, who is still in hospital on oxygen. Suddenly, ‘Breath Prayer’ took on a whole other meaning. Breath…….the basis of life, the breath of the Divine breathing us, in and out. There is a Breath Prayer that Christine suggests to ‘Gaze with Love on Another’. That is what my husband and I are doing as we FaceTime with each other, looking into each others’ eyes, saying the words to ourselves, giving solace to each other in the face of extreme challenge. So simple, yet so profound.
There are many more exquisite offerings of Breath Prayers to bask in. As well as an invitation to create your own. Which I did. I created my own Breath Prayer for healing, which I am carrying around with me all day and in the middle of the night when I cannot sleep.
Bless this little book that showed up just when I needed it. The synchronicity of the Divine at work. A must for anyone at any stage of their journey.
Initially, I meandered through some of the offerings in the book - a breath prayer for this daily task, a breath prayer for that state of being; delighting in carrying a chosen breath prayer around with me for the day, it helping me ground and connect to the Divine within.
And then I got COVID. As did my husband, who is still in hospital on oxygen. Suddenly, ‘Breath Prayer’ took on a whole other meaning. Breath…….the basis of life, the breath of the Divine breathing us, in and out. There is a Breath Prayer that Christine suggests to ‘Gaze with Love on Another’. That is what my husband and I are doing as we FaceTime with each other, looking into each others’ eyes, saying the words to ourselves, giving solace to each other in the face of extreme challenge. So simple, yet so profound.
There are many more exquisite offerings of Breath Prayers to bask in. As well as an invitation to create your own. Which I did. I created my own Breath Prayer for healing, which I am carrying around with me all day and in the middle of the night when I cannot sleep.
Bless this little book that showed up just when I needed it. The synchronicity of the Divine at work. A must for anyone at any stage of their journey.
August 18, 2023
Healing the Sacred-Profane Divide
Wisdom-breathed contents in this book are as beautifully nourishing as its cover. Often, holding book in hand, I inhale deeply before turning to specific entries. The practice slows me down enough to enter each reflection and breath prayer with the reverent confidence to find what’s needed.
One favourite of so many, ‘waking in the middle of the night’ provides a surprise resting place when, otherwise, I would be fretful about losing needed sleep. Previously, I wouldn’t have considered that night wakefulness could be an easeful, contemplative opportunity. However, practicing the suggested prayer is helping me first to hear and then tenderly release my aches and anxieties, and breathe in stillness.
Rich insights fill each page in ways that help sanctify the day’s ordinary activities. Breath prayers reorient these tasks, like laundry, checking your phone, dealing with loss, and their associated attitudes. The mindful outlook equips us to heal the false divide that typically separates sacred and profane. breath prayer’s wide-ranging entries stimulate our applied imaginations and empower us to extend sacred awareness far and wide.
Wisdom-breathed contents in this book are as beautifully nourishing as its cover. Often, holding book in hand, I inhale deeply before turning to specific entries. The practice slows me down enough to enter each reflection and breath prayer with the reverent confidence to find what’s needed.
One favourite of so many, ‘waking in the middle of the night’ provides a surprise resting place when, otherwise, I would be fretful about losing needed sleep. Previously, I wouldn’t have considered that night wakefulness could be an easeful, contemplative opportunity. However, practicing the suggested prayer is helping me first to hear and then tenderly release my aches and anxieties, and breathe in stillness.
Rich insights fill each page in ways that help sanctify the day’s ordinary activities. Breath prayers reorient these tasks, like laundry, checking your phone, dealing with loss, and their associated attitudes. The mindful outlook equips us to heal the false divide that typically separates sacred and profane. breath prayer’s wide-ranging entries stimulate our applied imaginations and empower us to extend sacred awareness far and wide.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews