Prayer as preparation for our inner life explorations.

 

I was born in a remote corner of the southern tip of Africa. I lived in a community where prayer was such an important part of life that it permeated every aspect of it. My family prayed in church, we prayed before we ate. We prayed for rain, for safe trips, for healing for our friends.

 

Maybe its for this reason that prayer became the natural way that I start important endeavours in life. As my relationship with the divine grew prayer remained a way to help focus the mind, calm the body, and build desire for divine contact with the Beloved. Prayer can be spontaneous, or can be structured. There is no right or wrong way, only you’re way.

 

I thought I would share my way. Maybe it could inspire you to find your own way, or even try a different way. I use a traditional Christian prayer, but feel free to replace any prayer or text or poem that helps you achieve similar aims.

 

1. First I raise my awareness to the highest spiritual principle I can conceive while taking a deep breath. At the same time I silently and inwardly say in my thoughts:

‘Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.’

 

1. Next I shift my awareness to my feet and the earth, simultaneously breathing out. At the same time I silently and inwardly say in my thoughts:

   ‘Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.

    

2. Next I raise my awareness back up to the highest spiritual principle I can conceive of while taking a deep breath. At the same time I silently and inwardly say in my thoughts:

   ‘Not just in heaven,…’

    

3. While breathing out and moving my consciousness back to my feet and the earth I silently and inwardly finish the sentence:

   ‘…but on earth as well.’

    

4. Breathing in and feeling by lungs and body filling with white light I inwardly and silently say:

   ‘Give us our daily bread,…’

    

5. While breathing out and I visualize all stresses and impurities flow out of my body through my mouth in form of smoke. At the same time I silently and inwardly say:

   ‘…and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive others theirs.’

    

6. Breathing in and focussing my thoughts on the divine I inwardly and silently say:

   ‘ And lead us not into temptation….’

    

7. Breathing out, visualising white light around me, I inwardly and silently finish the sentence:

   ‘….but deliver us from evil.’

    

8. Raising my awareness back up to the highest spiritual principle while breathing in I say inwardly:

   ‘For thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory.’

    

9. I finish by breathing out and grounding my awareness firmly at my feet and the earth, saying:

‘Amen’.

 

I then sit for a minute or two just breathing normally making no effort to think, feel or visualize before continuing with my scheduled meditations.

 

Have fun.