Sacred Spaces: Stations on a Celtic Way

Noted spiritual writer Margaret Silf takes her readers on a Celtic journey in her book SACRED SPACES. Combining Ignatian spirituality with traditional Celtic spirituality and the beauty that is Ireland and Scotland, Silf looks at the natural beauty and some ancient human made artifacts to help readers take a good look at their own lives. Silf looks at moments in our own lives: times we may be facing challenges, times we need to grow, and times we need to simply appreciate God's creation, and the like, and pairs them with ancient landmarks and the natural beauty of Celtic places. She does this to enable the reader to see how these places revealed God's role in human life to the Celts and can do the same for us today.The different artifacts and natural places focus on one area of a person's life and a chapter is devoted to the individual places or things. The chapters include:The Infinite Knot which Silf sees as God's weaving in our lives.The High Cross which were used to mark Churches and libraries can be seen as signs that point toward eternityHilltops which help us see the whole pictureWells which challenge us to live our possibilitiesGroves and springs which are signs of hospitality and generosityCrossing places which challenge us to growBoundariesOne chapter flows into the other and the book can almost be used as a mini retreat, but more than likely readers will find themselves returning to this book to reread Silf's insighst as we face the different situations talked about in the book in our own lives. The book also contains lush photographs which will delight people who have visited either Scotland or Ireland and entice others to make a trip to either of these beautiful places..

Sacred Spaces: Stations on a Celtic Way is an extraordinary book by Margaret Silf. It is written in a format that encourages readers to quietly read and absorb in contemplation the journey described, and more importantly, their own spiritual journey. Questions are interspersed throughout the sections to encourage readers to move beyond the book and into an exploration of their own personal story. The hardcover edition also is filled with wonderful photographs that add an even greater dimension to the book. Beware that the paperback edition does not have the photographs, and much is lost in their exclusion. I do not recommend the paperback edition. This book has had such a profound impact on me, that I purchased copies for each of my three adult children. It is a book to journey with again and again. If you are seeking a book that will awaken insights within yourself about who you are, and how you came to be where you are on your spiritual path, this book is for you. For me, it awakened a deep appreciation for moments of encountering the sacred in the everyday experiences, and an awe for the Celtic practice of marking the moment with stones as a permanent reminder of the moment. If you have the opportunity to purchase this book which is now out of print, don't let it slip by. But, be sure to get the hardcover edition with the orange cover.

Margaret Silf is gifted with the ability to create a comtempletive attitude in Sacred Spaces. She invites the reader to appreciate with her the integration of the outer landscape and the inner dynamics we experience on our life journeys. I return to this book often, allowing myself to choose which chapter I will read according to where I am in my own journey. I have also used this book in a similar manner with others during guided retreats.

Got the book for a class - it was pretty good. It was way more Celtic than Christian - a good thing as I am way more familiar with Christian works than Celtic and I wanted to learn something.

An inward journey into ancient thought of natural spaces made sacred by Celts and applicable to today's life and choices.

Wonderfully written and beautiful photographs. Great overview of Celtic spirituality. Glad I bought it.Why do I have to type so many words?

Provides thoughts for deep meditation, a great way to look at your life.

Margaret Silf's writing is clear and thought provoking

An excellent book and my first Margaret Silf, needless to say have now bought my 2nd ("The Other Side of Chaos")! I can see myself going back to Sacred Spaces over and over. I love the way she re-tells some of well-known Bible stories, in a way that makes them infinitely more understandable, I guess that is her Ignation training at work, totally immersing herself in the stories and giving them flesh and greater insight. Each of the Seven Sacred Spaces are explored and explained in great depth and are brilliant for personal understanding and deep reflection. I have been drawn more and more to the contemplative aspect of Christianity, in recent years and it was wonderful to gain a greater understanding of our Celtic tradition. So am now standing at my "Boundary" looking out to sea, reflecting on the "Islands" that we so often create, contemplating the "Bedrock" that indeed binds us all and am learning to reach a place of "Trust" so that I can step into my "Coracle" and allow God to meet me at my "Thin Place" to take me where He wills. Do buy and enjoy over and over.

Beautifully written and full of ancient and modern wisdom

Intriguing, thought provoking

Very good

I love this book, it is full of wisdom, the illustrations are lovely and it is a pleasure to read.