The Invitation

by Oriah

Overview

The author expands her prose poem into a spiritual guide to fully examining our lives, learning to live with intimacy & joy, and being true to ourselves.

“Poignant and poetic words and meditations on making the most of yearning, joy, beauty, commitment and solitude in our lives.” —Spirituality & Practice

Shared by word of mouth, e-mailed from reader to reader, recited over the radio, and read aloud at thousands of retreats and conferences, “The Invitation” has changed the lives of people everywhere. In this bestselling book, Oriah expands on the wisdom found within her beloved prose poem, which presents a powerful challenge to all who long to live an authentic life.

In a world of endless small talk, constant traffic jams, and overburdened schedules, “The Invitation” opens the door to a new way of life—a way of intimacy, honesty, and peace with ourselves, others, and the world around us. Oriah invites us to embrace the varieties of human experience, from desire and commitment to sorrow and betrayal, and to open ourselves to all that is possible. The Invitation is an invaluable guide to overcoming the obstacles that stand in our way and to discovering the true beauty that life has to offer.

Accept the invitation and open yourself to a more meaningful life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780061852794
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/27/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	162
File size:	571 KB

About the Author

Oriah is the author of the inspirational prose poem and international bestselling book The Invitation as well as the bestsellers The Dance and The Call. Her writing sets forth in detail how we can follow the thread of our heart's longing into a life of meaning and purpose. Her latest book, What We Ache For: Creativity and the Unfolding of Your Soul, explores creativity as a way of accessing and cultivating a spiritually rich life. Oriah is the mother of two grown sons. She lives with her husband, Jeff, several hours north of Toronto in a home surrounded by forest stillness.

Read an Excerpt

Some of the letters from men and women who are reading The Invitation have started me thinking about how easily we fall into viewing our spiritual journey as an endless and impossible quest for perfection. One woman wrote, "I've always imagined that those who are writing or speaking about how to live more fully do not have the same trouble with patience or discipline that I have -- that I am failing where others succeed. Reading about you meditating and then losing all tranquility when you discovered the mess your sons had made in the bathroom made me think that maybe my human failings do not exclude me from participating in a spiritual life."

I do it all the time -- equate wholeness and spirituality with perfection. At one point, knowing this was a problem and hearing the ancient adage, "All suffering comes from wanting things to be different than they are," I resolved to practice acceptance of all imperfections within myself and the world. Perfect acceptance, of course!

When I am able to accept things just the way they are right now -- my inconsistent ability to slow down, my eldest son's confusion about his future, the level of air pollution I can smell on this hot, humid day in the city -- really accept these realities without secret resentment or muttering to myself about injustice and danger, I am able to be more present. My stress level goes down, my shoulders drop, I take a deep breath, and my mind stops trying to find ways to make things better.

"But," a small voice within prods, "what about the things that really do need to be changed? Does accepting myself mean letting myself off the hook for using guilt or coercion with my teenage sons when they are making choices I am afraid will cause them difficulties? Does accepting the world mean not raising a voice when toxic waste is created and dumped?"

Part of me is afraid that acceptance will lead to inactivity, and believes that real and necessary change is created by actions that flow from the tension of discontent. And sometimes it is. Sometimes, it is my suffering over how I am with my sons when I am afraid for them that is the first step to finding a way to be calm, clear, and supportive. But this is only true if, at the same time, I can accept my limitations of the moment. If I insist that I should be less fearful than I am at the moment, I set myself up for failure. Accepting my limitations and wanting to behave differently, I am more likely to create a situation that supports the change I want to make -- making sure potentially volatile conversations do not happen when I am tired or rushed, or having them when there are others around who can mediate.

Seeking the inner peace of acceptance does not mean acquiescing to those things that can and need to be changed. It means recognizing those things, in this moment, that I cannot change and not wasting any energy railing against them -- suffering over them -- or insisting that I should be able to change them. It also means recognizing what I can change and doing it. It requires wisdom born of deep contemplation and ruthless honesty. There is a fine line between acceptance and giving up, self-acceptance and self-indulgence, and working for change -- inner or outer -- often puts us on the slippery slope of endless trying and discontent. And while taking action without attachment to the outcome helps us to accept and move forward, my human longing -- what some would call attachment -- for change in aspects of my life or the world is often what has sustained me in the actions that have manifested those changes. I have more fun when I am working without attachment to results but...well, some days are better than others. Some days, my humanness can't get unhooked and I suffer. And if I hold up the ideal of non-attachment as a goal and not a guide, I suffer over my suffering and am even further from the fullness I want to live.

Compassion, acceptance of our humanness, and a tender appreciation for our deep desire to love well and live fully help us both to let go of the judgement that paralyzes and to begin again and again. Greeting these infinite and precious beginnings with a willing heart is what it looks like to choose life, to be fully human -- a physical, emotional, mental, sexual, and spiritual being -- every day.

What People are Saying About This

Wayne W. Dyer

“Her words pierced my shell and pricked at my soul. An invitation to the ultimate dance.”

Jean Houston

"Wise. So very wise is this deep and thoughtful book. It is a wisdom born of one who knows shadows and loss and gathering foundness, joy and genuine ecstasy. The truth-telling courage of Oriah Mountain Dreamer gives us a bracing antidote to the easy answers of the pop gurus. Here is a feast of life with real food to nourish the hungry seeker."

Richard Carlson

“The Invitation is a treasure. If you want to live more deeply, honestly, and passionately, you must read this book.”

Michael Toms

“Stunning in its simplicity and power, soul food for the mind and heart, a prose poem for a new world.”

Editorial Reviews

This book began as a prose poem, scribbled after a disappointing party. Using the form of a poem that she remembered from a workshop, Oriah wrote The Invitation as an expression of all the things that she wanted to share with others. Since its first publication in 1999, this book has been translated into over a dozen languages.

The Invitation is a treasure.

Richard Carlson

A fierce and tender presence, I its wisdom could become a lifelong companion, engaging and awakening theoriginal and unique rhythm of your mind and soul.

John O'Donohue

Her words pierce my shell and pricked at my soul. An invitation to the ultimate dance.

Wayne W. Dyer

Her words pierced my shell and pricked at my soul. An invitation to the ultimate dance.” — Wayne W. Dyer, author of Wisdom of the Ages

“Stunning in its simplicity and power, soul food for the mind and heart, a prose poem for a new world.” — Michael Toms, cofounder of New Dimensions Radio and coauthor of True Work

“The Invitation is a treasure. If you want to live more deeply, honestly, and passionately, you must read this book.” — Richard Carlson, author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff

From the Publisher

Stunning in its simplicity and power, soul food for the mind and heart, a prose poem for a new world.

Michael Toms