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Prayer
Apr 26, 2017 12:57:59 GMT -1
Post by lorna on Apr 26, 2017 12:57:59 GMT -1
Following on from our discussion on addressing the gods and goddesses, which included prayer, something we don't have much (any?) information about in Brythonic Polytheism, I found this post on Pagan Bloggers called 'On Prayer' by R. M. McGrath helpful. paganbloggers.com/intothemystic/blog/2017/04/09/on-prayer/He's approached it from the perspective of how different types of prayer used in Christianity and Shaktism can be used by pagan polytheists. The types of prayer he lists are help prayers, repetitive prayer, silent prayer, and lectio divina. For me prayer is very much about establishing a dialogue with a deity - and I guess any of these methods could lead into the development of said dialogue. I've found meditating on Welsh mythology in a manner akin to lectio divina can lead into initiation into a deity's mythos. I'd be interested to hear more about how others pray and what you've experienced.
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Prayer
Apr 26, 2017 14:16:01 GMT -1
Post by Lee on Apr 26, 2017 14:16:01 GMT -1
I use the repetitive prayer occasionally, though not that much lately.
I have a 'rosary' of beads and have a short prayer i use for each one.
If I remember, I will take a photo some time and put it up.
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Prayer
Apr 26, 2017 20:01:03 GMT -1
Post by Heron on Apr 26, 2017 20:01:03 GMT -1
Prayer is also for me about establishing a relationship with a deity. More or less every day I am at home I pray at my garden altar. I have a few set phrases and forms of address to begin and end, which makes sure I always have something to say out loud. Between these I may say something more spontaneous, read something I have written for special occasions, or engage in silent prayer either fairly briefly or in an extended meditation. I have a seat near the altar so, although I normally stand before it, if I am engaging in silent mediation I can sit for this. I also have a number of particular places in my home area where I regularly go to sit quietly in a prayerful way or, in the case of the River, make suitable offerings.
I often used to engage in more structured meditations on particular deities, texts or images. Now I rarely do this, but I'm sure that doing it in the past, while my practice was still developing, was a useful way to get me to where I am now. As I no longer work full time I am able to structure my worship time into more of a regular routine, but I also try not to let the the routine dominate or get in the way of spontaneous experience. Although a structure is useful, it is also important to be open to a response and to be guided by the response rather than the structure. There can be no dogma.
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