Rating: 
Summary: Am I the Only One . . . ?
Review: The poem entitled 'The Invitation' is a dangerous and political neo-liberal statement. I was dismayed to find out how popular this poem has become in cyberspace, reproduced and forwarded on countless bulletin boards. The poem is cited by mental health professionals as a 'support' for those suffering from such maladies as depression or bi-polar mood changes, and I wonder whether I am the only one concerned about its popularity and potentially negative impact amongst such needy individuals. The poem has execrable style, soppy New Age sentiments and maddening internal contradictions. Far more dangerous is the philosophy of failing at its heart. It asks "I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul", sentiments ex-president Clinton might well have shared in his convoluted denials of any wrong-doing in the Lewinsky case. In this world of relative values and no absolute principles, betrayal is not betrayal, and of course it all depends on what you mean by 'is'. This 'Invitation' has at its centre an empty and echoing chamber where moral judgement should reside, and in it conscience is a small and frantic lost bird fluttering around and around without anywhere to perch and rest.
Rating: 
Summary: Like Manna from Heaven for the Lost and Wandering Soul
Review: I first ran across the poem, "The Invitaion" on the Internet, then after I couldn't sleep for thinking of it, tracked down the book. I was even more blown away after reading it. So much so that I read it, went back and highlighted portions that had a great impact on me, then, read it a third time, going back again and again to write excerpts in my journal for everyday reflection. This book gave me the courage to get up and keep at it, after a very painful time in my life. Her message is so simple, yet so hard to do, but, has such incredible rewards.... Open yourself up to life, to all of it, the good and the ugly, no matter how vulnerable you may feel, because you can't truly appreciate the sweetness of life and all that it has to offer, unless you dare to have the courage to lay yourself, your deepest part of your soul bare, then began again from there. Until you allow yourself to do that, as she says, everything is just superficial. She teaches you how to LIVE life, good/bad/ whatever, all the way down to the marrow of your bones. A true gift to the human spirit.
Rating: 
Summary: As someone said... it's only the Poem...
Review: Somewhere while surfing the Internet, I came across the lovely poem that echoes what also "interest me." It turned out, it was the title poem of this book. However, my expectations fell apart when I actually bought it and started to read. It is something like "this is the way you should live..." No inspiration... seems only like a want-to-be perfect dreamer's dream. Just read the poem. That is enough.
Rating:
Summary: Spiritual Journey to the Edges of Emotion to Find Your Core!
Review: Ms. Oriah Mountain Dreamer has created a pathway beyond the comforable and the mundane into that which challenges and repels you. By addressing the edges of your personality and sensitivities, you can build on and extend your awareness and your reality in honest ways that better fit your inner self. The book is propelled from the author's emotionally intense vision of her life as expressed in this question: "Did I love well?"Although her personal examples are simply there to help your own journey, their poignancy touched me deeply. If you are like me, you will admire the honesty and openness of her sharing. Ms. Dreamer has had two failed marriage and many failed relationships. She has had friends who experienced horrible personal setbacks. You will be seared by the pain, the truth, and the beauty in these experiences. And you will be the better for the vicarious experience. Above all, this book is a call to have courage, courage to go beyond the comfortable into the important. Because of the examples chosen and her personal perspective, this book will probably speak more eloquently to many women than to many men. The book is broken down into the statement of her invitation to follow her spiritual path by dealing with longing, fear, sorrow, joy, betrayal, beauty, failure, commitment, and fire to develop the deep sustenance to allows you to go to your true inner home. Each section contains personal experiences of her point, and ends with valuable meditation exercises to help you find your own "truth" in these areas. Although the book sounds like another New Age tract, it is actually anti-New Age in many ways . . . especially in favoring emotional and physical reality over spiritual vagueness. Here is a little of what she has to say on these subjects: Accepting the Invitation: " . . . [Y]ou will experience, not just read about, the ache, the sorrow, the joy, the courage, the peace . . . ." The Longing: "This is what I ask for: intimacy with myself, others, and the world . . . ." The Fear: "We are afraid we will not be enough." " . . . [D]esire . . . brings the ecstasy of falling more deeply in love with my own life every day . . . ." The Sorrow: "If we are strong enough to be weak enough, we are given a wound that never heals." "[That wound] is the gift that keeps the heart open." The Joy: "The enemy of joy is the litany of 'not good enough' . . . ." The Betrayal: "Sometimes, to choose life, we must break agreements; sometimes we must keep them although they are hard to keep." The Beauty: " . . . [G]ratitude expands my ability to receive beauty." "It is what pulls us towards life." The Failure: " . . . [O]ften an attempt to avoid the paralysis of shame." The Commitment: " . . . [F]eed the children when [they] thought they could not." The Fire: "[D]ifficult to keep our hearts open, to feel the fear and pain." Finding Our Way Home: "Are you willing to meet yourself and not turn away from what you are?" As you can see, Ms. Dreamer sets a high standard, but one that you will probably be proud to match. I particularly recommend the meditations in the book. My own meditation routine repeats the same process. I found it rewarding to use different methods. Many new thoughts occurred to me as a result. It was a deeply moving experience in each case. After you have finished your spiritual journey with this book as a guide, I suggest that you write out your own examples to match these topics from your own experience. This will make the material more accessible, especially if loving well is not your core reason for being. Be yourself, in more ways and more fully!
Rating:
Summary: Transforming
Review: My fiance' and I discussed having The Invitation prose read at our wedding ceremony. It touched us both at our very core, but we hesitated to do this for fear the challenging message would not be received the way we intended in a large crowd of people who had not had the privilege of reading the book. We were wrong. It was beautifully read when we wed and the comments have been wonderful. We provided each guest a copy in a small scroll commemorating the event, the reader and the book. We have had several people give us their own interpretations and will certainly be buying a copy of this book for themselves. It made our very special occasion truly rewarding because we shared Oriah Mountain Dreamer's meaningful words and they were warmly received by a vast array of friends.
Rating:
Summary: Powerfully written, I read it every day
Review: I have been recently searching for more in my life. This book helps me find it.
Rating:
Summary: Dreams Alive....
Review: For anyone who wants to live life more abundantly, lovingly, honestly and more fully this is an excellent book. It speaks to the very essence that we are all filled with and touches your soul. It moves beyond the outer world of appearances and has us look to within for what connects us, holds us together and speaks to us. She has an excellent way of making spirituality an everyday choice and is well aware of the trials that come of living a life of love in a world so often filled with fear. I highly reccomend this book to anyone regardless of age, gender or anything else that we so often divide ourselves with. It is an amazing book filled with insight and just by reading the poem that she draws her book from it will change your way of looking at the world.
Rating: 
Summary: A poetic expression
Review: If you like books written in a "stream of consciousness" style, then this book is for you. I enjoyed the chapter called "The Fire" which is about living life more fully and how life is very precious. I found this chapter very touching. Another book that I recently enjoyed is "Working on Yourself Doesn't Work" by Ariel and Shya Kane...excellent book! Touching and about living life in the moment. I recommend this highly as well.
Rating:
Summary: Zero Stars
Review: This book was easy to read but empty of content. The lowest rating option is one star, else I would have rated it a big zero. The author liked to use word painting and her sentences flowed nicely, but if you're looking for insight, information, hope, knowledge, or anything other than learning about the mistakes in life the author has made (was this meant to be an autobiography?), save your money. Frankly I was amazed after reading it -- amazed at the positive reviews the book has on it's back cover. Quite a disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: The Invitation
Review: This book is absolutely transformational. I have read many books regarding the search for self, but never have had the pleasure of an author describing exactly how I was feeling. The book's inescapable flow and pros, rendered me unable to put it down until complete. This very well written book has been added to my special library, and will be read till the pages fall out of it's hardback cover. Thank you, Oriah Mountian Dreamer, for the chance to be TRUELY transformed.
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