• Beauty: The Invisible Embrace

  • Rediscovering the True Sources of Compassion, Serenity, and Hope
  • By: John O'Donohue
  • Narrated by: John O'Donohue
  • Length: 5 hrs and 18 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (548 ratings)

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Beauty: The Invisible Embrace  By  cover art

Beauty: The Invisible Embrace

By: John O'Donohue
Narrated by: John O'Donohue
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Publisher's summary

The human soul is hungry for beauty; we seek it everywhere in landscape, music, art, clothes, furniture, gardening, companionship, love, religion, and in ourselves. When we experience the Beautiful, there is a wonderful sense of homecoming; we feel fully alive. Our lives become illuminated, and behind the shudder of appearances we come to glimpse the sure form of things. On Beauty: The Invisible Embrace, Irish poet and philosopher John O'Donohue invites us to remember and to awaken the Beautiful; it is always secretly there, awaiting but our attention and reverence in order to come alive. Beauty is the true priestess of individuation. But our times are dominated by anxiety and by what is vulgar, coarse, and artificial. Were Beauty to awaken in the fields of politics, religion, planning, discourse, and seeing, our world would heal, and fresh wells of hope would refresh us. Kathleen Raine, the English poet says: "Strangest of all is the ease with which the vision is lost, consciousness contracts, we forget over and over again, until recollection is stirred by some icon of that beauty. Then we remember and wonder why we ever forgot."

©2006 John O'Donohue (P)2006 John O'Donohue

What listeners say about Beauty: The Invisible Embrace

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So beautiful!

I enjoyed listening to John O'Donohue read his work. He is a gifted narrator and a beautiful writer.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Hearing John’s voice as he weaves poetry with theology

Although John was taken from us almost 18 years ago, there are some days when I need a dose of his poetry/ theology in his own voice. Very grateful for this recording. For the opportunity to take a rich inner journey of exploration using painting, music, and poetry to find union with the divine.

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inspiring

a great way to reconnect with beauty and the eternal. worth the listen. what's up with the word count inbedded in the review program...succinct is better.

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2 people found this helpful

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Perspective Shifting

I had to pause and rewind to really ponder the concepts. This recording shifted and enlarged my perspective on beauty. I look forward to another listen. I thought this was an audio version of his written book of the same name. It's not but both are equally wonderful. The book is longer but the blessing at the very end of this one is worth the listen alone.

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Soul nourishment, soul communion

John O names things my soul has known yet I had no words for. His narration enlivens his written words. I feel nourished and witnessed.

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Rediscovering the Beauty around us and in us.

If you could sum up Beauty: The Invisible Embrace in three words, what would they be?

Thoughtful. Brilliant. Peaceful.

What did you like best about this story?

Not a story - duh. John O'Donohue is a gifted teacher and weaver of words.

What about John O'Donohue’s performance did you like?

Gaelic Lilt.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Had to listen to much of it more than once. Full of deep heart.

Any additional comments?

I ll likely listen to it again.

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3 people found this helpful

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Lovely book.

A most lovely book which helps you navigate life via color, beauty and nature. A friend gifted me this book which made it more special. The music was so soothing.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

astoundingly beautiful!

breathtakingly beautiful! I drank it in with sips like a fine wine. each chapter more exquisite than the one before it, but the chapter on color astounded me! my brain loved every word!

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Chapters 9 & 10

The entire book is a beautiful and soulful use of language. I listened first to this years ago and revisit it frequently for its richness of imagination.

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Gift from God

Elegant, warm, truthful. Reminds me of the spiritual warmth and mystery I was blessed to have when I lived in Ireland.

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