Contemporary Prayers to * [whatever works] 2013 Original First Edition

This is the original, 2013 limited edition of Contemporary Prayers to * [whatever works] self published by Hannah Burr. Each copy is signed by the author. This unique and colorful 128 page book of reflections and illustrations makes a useful meditative gift for anyone in the midst of big changes or uncertainty.

This is a conceptual artist’s book of informal and meditative prayers to whatever works. These prayers are simple and written in plain language, and include within each prayer a colorful abstract form painted with ink and brush, in place of whatever or whomever you address in petition or prayer. The images are placeholders for whatever that might be (see the thumbnails to get a sense of them).

This is not a religious text, nor affiliated with any particular tradition; as such it is a great interfaith prayer book, a doorway into contemplative prayer, and useful as a practical and meditative tool. This book is cherished by diverse many, from agnostic teenagers to catholic nuns with a sense of humor, poets, designers and yoga practitioners and is a perfect gift book for friends and family looking for a modern and meaningful way to show support. It is light, funny and tender, and fresh ink on an ancient practice.

A tip on using this book: There is no need to have a spiritual experience to pray. These are simply prompts for a working, daily relationship with {*}. Like a drop of sea water and the ocean, perhaps you’re already well acquainted.

The 50+ illustrations are by Hannah Burr, as are the 50 prayers they are embedded in. The book contains an introduction and a table of contents, and is completely distinct in it’s content from the 2021 edition.