Milagros : A Book of Miracles

Rating:
Summary: Great Introduction
Review: I have been interested in Mexican Folk Art for quite some time and often admired Milagros. They are such beautiful little pieces of art that look as though they are crafted with such care. I have been hesitant to start purchasing or collecting these due to a lack of knowledge on their history and meaning.

Enter this great little book by Helen Thompson entitled "Milagros: A Book of Miracles." What a great resource this is for someone like me who has a genuine interest in these little miracles and is searching for their meaning. In it you get a brief history of Milagros and their continued use. Then you are shown the Milagros that relate to the human body, mind and spirit. This is where we are given some amazing stories that drive home the powerfulness of the Milagros!

This book of miracles ends with a bit on making your own Milagros. As an avid crafter, I found this to be an incredibly interesting section of the book. With just a bit of imagination, you can make some beautiful Milagros of your own.

This was a great introduction for me and now I'm off to further my Milagro education.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty little book, but......
Review: If you want a little book to place on a table in your guest room, buy this one. But if you want to really learn something about the subject of milagros as votive offerings, buy the book "Milagros: Votive Offerings from the Americas" by Martha Egan. It is very informative with excellent illustrations. It will make you want to be a collector.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty little book, but......
Review: If you want a little book to place on a table in your guest room, buy this one. But if you want to really learn something about the subject of milagros as votive offerings, buy the book "Milagros: Votive Offerings from the Americas" by Martha Egan. It is very informative with excellent illustrations. It will make you want to be a collector.

Rating:
Summary: Lovely introduction to this tradition
Review: If you've wondered about milagros and what they mean, this is a great book to explain the traditions. The illustrations are simple and inspiring if you're working with mixed media and want to head more towards authentic folk art. Finally, if you're a believer, the personal stories of how each type of milagro is used are very touching. This is a short book, filled with ample colorful illustrations, introducing you to milagros. For example, if you've seen little lips as a silver or golden charm and wondered what it meant, this book will explain. To dig deeper into religious and artistic traditions, you'll want a different book, but this is a fine place to start your exploration of these ancient talismans.

Rating:
Summary: Give Yourself a Little Gift Book
Review: Milagros: Not just third world magical thinking. Note that Milagros is a little 6" x 6" gift book -- then go ahead and give yourself the gift. Helen Thompson wrote meditations on head, heart, hand, foot and mouth milagros that offer a solid grasp of the symbol -- and sometimes miracle -- making functions of the psyche, despite New Age Caroline Myss and Louise Hay in the little bibliography, and the design and photographs are sweet and bright. For those buying this for their own serious interest in the legitimate history and use of milagros for prayer petitions, Eileen Oktavec's scholarly but friendly Answered Prayers: Miracles and Milagros Along the Border is a must.

Rating:
Summary: an enchanting gift
Review: This adorable book was a gift that delighted me in so many ways...its wonderful layout, uplifting bright colors, imaginitive illustrations, and the text, which is very informative.

If you have an interest in milagros (it's the only thing I can say that I "collect"), this book is a "must have". These little "miracles" have their origins as Mexican talismans, and they are also folk art. They have much religious symbolism, and can be used in prayer for a need, and in gratitude for a prayer answered...they bridge the gap between the physical and spiritual, and do so with much beauty...they can be used singly, or clustered and nailed to an object, such as the shoe depicted on page 8.

The introduction gives a brief history, going back to ancient times, and how their use spread throughout the Americas.
The chapters that follow are on the milagros that depict the head, heart, hand, foot, and mouth, and how they relate to the body, mind, and spirit, with lovely stories that help give the descriptions added meaning.

It ends with a short piece on "Making your own milagros", which is just a starting point to fuel your imagination and bring out your creative talents. As it says in the introduction, "Your milagros are reminders that any act of devotion, no matter how small, is worthy", and I've found that my minimal (but growing !) collection has added a tiny bit of heaven to my daily life.