Prayer Speak

I recently read "The Isaiah Effect", by Greg Braden. And, I must say, I will never look at prayer the same. This book looks at the history of prayer, not just from a Christian or biblical viewpoint, but also from a Native American perspective. Greg's journey weaves through Egypt and Tibet, from pyramids to monasteries.

Greg explores prophecies from the Bible, the Gnostics, the Essenes, Edgar Cayce, the Hopi, and Nostradamus, among others. Interestingly enough, all of the prophecies indicate that the world is rapidly approaching a time when decisions concerning the climate, food, shelter, and survival will become paramount. These prophecies point to various "end time" scenarios, and none of them are pretty. But, on the other hand, they also offer an alternative ending. That ending is one that includes peace, harmony and understanding for all.

A coded message system was recently discovered within the verses of the Bible. High tech computer processing picked up the code and ran with it. The code accurately describes both World War I and World War II. It also envisions an end times scenario complete with floods, famines, and plagues. But, here again, it also offers a scenario of a world at peace with love and compassion as the keynotes. And, right in the middle of it all are the words.. "Which will you choose?"

Greg speaks about a web that connects everything together. Within that web are smaller webs. For instance, the web that contains the species "fish" allows all of the fish that are upon this earth to communicate with one another. It reminds them when and where to spawn, and what type of water they need in order to survive. There are similar webs that exist within each animal and even plant species. But, humankind destroyed the web that bound us together a very long time ago, in order to achieve "free will." By destroying our web, we have lost our ability to communicate amongst ourselves and to do that which is in the best interest of the "whole."

In the book, Greg describes a friend of his whose people are badly in need of rain. Greg is invited to accompany his friend to an ancient Medicine Wheel. The ritual that takes place is very short and simple. When Greg asks his friend if he prayed for rain, his friend replies"No, I prayed rain." The friend then goes on to explain how his people pray. This type of prayer had been practiced among them for thousands of years. When I read the description, it made a whole lot of sense to me. Mainly because that is the way that I have been praying all of my life.

First of all, prayers have to be felt in order to become their most powerful. When we start to pray, it is with a sense of gratitude for all that we DO have. The next step in the process is to "feel" what it is you want or need to have happen. In Greg's friend's case it was feeling the sensation of rain falling on his body, the mud squishing between his toes, and the clean, clear scent after the rain. The final aspect is to thank God, the Universe, the Goddess, Allah, or whatever aspect your concept of the creative process may be. The thank-you includes the fact that you are allowed to become a part of the miracle you are asking for. And, you think of it as if it has already happened.

I like this idea of prayer immensely. It involves gratitude, thankfulness, and hope. And, it is heart "felt."

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is on a spiritual, but not necessarily religious pathway. Be prepared to be amazed!

Love and Light