Prayers

Intention:

Prayers are typically addressed to deities, to entities perceived as benign and powerful. Humans have probably used prayers to communicate with spiritual figures since the dawn of humankind. People all over the world pray individually and collectively, in private and public places, silently and at full volume. Prayers can have many purposes and take different forms, such as invocation, adoration, gratitude, petition, intercession, confession, and lament. Prayers can have a traditional and cultural value for groups, as well as intimate and personal importance for individuals.

Since prayers can represent a valuable source of inspiration towards the integration of our experiences, here we offer a space for our favorite prayers.

Instruction:

Copy or write down prayers that are meaningful to you. You can include well-known and original prayers.

Feel free to also incorporate related illustrations and reflections.

Here we offer some guiding questions.

Inspection:

·       How do you select which prayers to include in your collection?

·       What experiences have contributed to your ideas and customs related to praying?

·       What determines the circumstance or occasion for you to pray?

·       What places are conducive to prayer for you?

·       What religious, spiritual or transcendental traditions inspire the prayers you use?

·       How are your experiences different when praying alone and praying with others?

·       Does your praying include any rituals (candles, rosaries, beads, incense, postures, music, dance)?

·       What are your beliefs about the value and power of prayer?

·       What are your emotional reactions to praying?