I remember 20 years ago hearing all the jokes imaginable about gurus, meditation, and spiritual practices. As an uneducated woman, I fell into step, listened to the words of the wise. Wise? Yes, the one speaking made it sound believable, in turn brought a sense of wisdom to their words.
Meditation still appears as foreign to many individuals. Yet over the last two decades I have watched it grow. In my search for healing my path has changed. The new destinations, or stop overs have included people like Norman Vincent Peale, The Bible, The Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Thich Nhat Hanh, Robin Norwood, Kahlil Gibran, Richard Bach, and many, many more.
My reading endeavors have led to books concerning alcoholism, Christian recovery, positive thinking, co-dependency, trauma, addictions, and spiritual development. I have read some books religiously, reading and reading, dog-eared pages and covers that are less than perfect.
Sharing my experience, strength and hope has taken me through 25 years of joy and pain. The women and men I have shared my journey with have moved on. It is much like the waves of an ocean, they come rolling into the shore to great you, stirring up the sand at your feet. On the way out the water washes away and removes the layers of sand it brought in with it.
Meditation is a learned skill. One that begins with the breath. My introduction to breathing came from Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Mindfulness (Short title). I have lent and replaced this book three times now. I do not know if those who borrowed ever read it. My latest copy is dog-eared and worn. It is as if someone rewrote the book each time I read it.
Taking a breath in through the nose, with the tongue gently rested at the roof of the mouth right behind the teeth, I say quietly in my mind, “I breath in one.” During the inhale I allow the air to fill my stomach and the lower lungs. On the exhale, the stomach pulls in, the tongue drops and the air is moved out of the body, I quietly state in my mind, “I breath out one.” (This is one of the basic lessons in Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh.)
What I have learned from each author, reading is a form of meditation. I am listening. Meditation is a quiet moment, when you are walking, reading, eating, doing the dishes or the laundry, this is your time to hear what spirit is saying to you. Whereas prayer is your request for your wants, needs, desires.
Prayer is another learned skill. When an addict or alcoholic is in his or her throes of finding that next drug or drink, praying for God’s help one more time. That is a skill, learned from repeated practice. Prayer is the opportunity to ask your Divine Source for that which you feel a need for. This can be a want or a desire.
Prayers are in supplication or appreciation form. When praying in supplication you are desperate for a result, wanting it now or even yesterday. Disappointment is usually the result. The reason the request in your prayer did not manifest as you asked is because your emotions were focused on the unwanted, rather than the wanted.
Prayers of appreciation puts the focus on the want, desire or need. Desire is the source of answered prayers. Our emotion is focused and so our thoughts follow. It may not occur as soon as you desire it, maybe a few days or years pass by. The request is heard by the Divine Source.
Supplication is born of fear, lack, and loss. Begging god for the event not to happen. Your emotion is focused on loss, even when your words are stating the opposite. If you fear eviction, begging God for the money to pay the mortgage or rent, the focus is on eviction. All your energy is directed to the fear and not to the actual request. The request is mixed and generally the eviction will occur, not the money to pay the bills. A simple and short explanation. What are your thoughts, please share them in the comments.
Appreciation is born of the desire to receive. In the case of the eviction, you do not fear this result, rather your emotional tie is to the receipt of money. Increasing your abundance, finding a solution to the lack of money. Your imagination is fired and you are being creative.
You may pray to god to provide you the intuition, creativity, or other means to fix this problem. Mindfulness of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors is essential to the positive results of attraction.
Prayer and meditation are key to staying on course and focused on the positive results. The desire to love your life, earn more money, relocate, or find the love of your life. Asking and listening, how good are you at either or both? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.
The prayer of appreciation is as simple as this: Thank you for the resources, love, and abundance you have made available to me this day that I may flourish. No harm to none, So mote it be.
My moment of meditation is followed by journal writing, capturing the thoughts and ideas that come to me. Answers are there, all we have to do is listen.
When in need reach out and ask for that extra ear and sound word born of Love.
As a lifestyle coach I base my skills on a spiritual path. We do not need to share the same beliefs. Teaching you how to listen to what you already know is true for you. I can be reached through my Contact Page or you can browse the short version of my Services first. Bless you this day, all that you require is presented to you.
