The Power of Meditative Prayer
Meditative prayer is a technique I use in my personal practice pretty much daily. I’ve found it to be a tool that provides relief from mental suffering.
Whenever I catch myself spiralling into anxiety, worry, or doubt — I almost always come back to this as a way to shift out of fear, and into a place of love and trust.
It’s also a genuinely comforting practice. Putting things in perspective, opening your mind to lessons, and clearing the fog that tends to emanate from stress.
The variation I use is a blend of English affirmation and prayer.
What is an affirmation?
An affirmation is a phrase that we repeat to ourselves silently or out loud for the duration of our meditation practice. Affirmations have personal meaning and offer support in areas we may be internally struggling with. In its essence, it’s a tool that provides alleviation for the mind.
What is prayer?
Religion was actually not part of my upbringing. We grew up believing there was something bigger but did not follow the traditional structure.
When we talk about the context of prayer and, in specific, who we’re praying to, it will depend on your personal beliefs. While some pray to God, you may find more resonance by praying to the Universe, Nature, Guardian Angels, Ancestors, Your Higher Self…anything along those lines.
The idea is that you’re putting your faith in something bigger. It doesn’t matter who or what, so long as it serves the highest good for all and you feel connected to it.
How to find your perfect prayer
When creating your own prayers, I recommend sitting in silence until one comes to the surface. This can take time to get used to and like everything, it requires practice. The more you do it, the more comfortable you’ll become catching a prayer that’s meant for you. Until you reach that point, you can scroll to the bottom of this blog & find inspiration in the ones listed below.
Think about…
What you want to manifest
What you need help with
Fears you’d like removed from your life
A Suggestion
I recommend placing the word “May” at the beginning of your phrases of affirmation/prayer. By using this word, it becomes an invitation to form a dialogue between you and your higher self. It creates space and a sense of detachment from the outcome you’re seeking. It’s softer...not a demand, but a request. And there is humility and gratitude within that request. By using this language, the prayer then becomes an invitation to listen & learn.
It’s like you’re turning it over...saying to the Universe (or whatever you believe in) “I need help. This is happening to me, this is what I’m feeling...but may it be this way instead”
You’re engaging in a conversation that entertains the idea that it could be better. You become a magnet for what it is you’d like to attract. And you’re making your preferences known. This simple act can make it a lot easier to breathe.
When we use meditative prayer, we’re transforming our worry into something more productive and we’re stepping into the process of trust. With every repetition of prayer we’re training our brain to have faith that something good is coming.
We can turn to meditative prayer when we’d like sometime to change and for the times when we want to shift our focus
Here are 5 prayers you can use in your meditation practice...
For holding out hope
“May you help me restore my faith”
“It’s this or something better”
For soothing anxiety
“May my stress dissolve, and may clarity take it’s place”
“May my anxiety dissipate, may ease fill the space”
For attracting the good
“May I attract the highest good”
“May I attract what’s meant for me”
“May you help me see my worth and value”
For trusting the process
“I surrender. I allow fate to intertwine”
“May you help me trust the path”
“May you remove that blocks that are holding me back from having faith"
For love
“May I be guided to the right love for me”
Another note
You can use affirmations and prayer in written word as well. Have a piece of paper & pen, write out your phrase multiple times on the page and eventually it will become engrained in your mind. Remember, it’s all medicine, no matter how you do it.
Do you have a go-to prayer or affirmation you like to use? Comment in the section below to let us know! Also, if you have questions, reach out love. That’s what I’m here for. xo