I am fearfully and wonderfully made … intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Psalm 139.14-15 (NRSV)
God has wonderfully woven each of us – body, soul, mind, spirit, emotions, feelings – into whole and inseparable human beings. Our body is not simply a container for mind and heart. Each affects the others, and engaging our body in prayer – praying with the whole person – deepens our attentiveness and enables different intentions in prayer.
The Eucharist, for example, is rich in use of the body. Depending on our tradition, we might stand to sing and raise our hands in worship; kneel to pray and confess our sins; sit to listen to God’s word; open our hands to say the Lord’s Prayer; bow or genuflect as we enter the church and approach the sanctuary; or cross ourselves as we receive God’s blessing. Simply opening or closing our eyes can signal our intention, either to be with others in this place, or to withdraw slightly to focus on our own relationship with God. We each have our own practices, and attach our own meaning to these actions.
We can also use these expressions in our times of private prayer, as well as many others. The rhythm of walking can help calm the mind, or work out a blockage in our prayer. Dancing can express our joy and other emotions. In the Orthodox tradition, repeated prostration expresses humility and a promise: kneeling and touching head to the ground, confessing sin and seeking mercy; returning to standing, turning in repentance and receiving grace. In the monastic service of solemn profession, full prostration is an expression of self-giving.
Paying attention to the body and posture is also useful, even vital, in silent prayer. It is difficult to drop down into encounter with God if we are moving around restlessly or our mind is only focused on our discomfort.
So at the beginning of the prayer, take time to get comfortable. I recommend sitting upright in a chair with good back support, both feet resting on the ground. It is helpful to have an open posture, rather than closed in and hunched over. Hands could rest gently folded in your lap or on your knees, either upward to express receiving or downward to express letting go.
Then, as you begin your prayer time, you could use a body or breathing awareness practice to let go of your preoccupations and still your mind. Focus for a few seconds on each part of your body in turn – head, face, neck, shoulders, etc – and become aware of the sensations there – tightness, touch, temperature. Or become aware of your breathing, the air as it enters and leaves your nostrils. Do not control your breathing, simply observe it. Then return to awareness of your body or breathing whenever you notice you have become distracted. . .
For much more on body and breathing awareness as a way into prayer, see Anthony de Mello “Sadhana: A Way to God, Christian Exercises in Eastern Form” (pdf)
-oOo-
This is one of a series of articles appearing in Exeter Cathedral’s monthly news, complementing the material I contributed to the “Explore Prayer” section of the Cathedral website. I hope you find them helpful.
