By Sivani Katie Gelfand,
In this time of uncertainty it can be hard to know where to direct our energy and how to find connection, grounding, and support. I believe prayer can help. If this word is triggering for you, please think of it in a new way. Think of prayer as the humble expression of your heart and soul's deepest longings of hope and gratitude. Perhaps you believe in and pray to a higher power (Goddess, God, Spirit, Allah, Creator, etc.), but that is not a requirement of prayer. You need not believe in a higher source, for the intention of your words and deeds have power.
As the mystic poet Rumi said “Let the beauty we love be what we do. There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground.” Some pray with their bodies, some pray with their words, some pray with medicine, some pray with water, some pray with beads, some pray on their knees. Some pray through service, some pray through song, some pray through creation, some pray through ritual and ceremony. Whatever your flavor of prayer, however you can connect to the energy of the universe, to the holiness of all life, to that which is greater than all of us—do it now, do it daily, and do it with faith.
With the isolation recommendations it is difficult for many of us to pray the ways we usually do, and in the places and with the people we usually pray with. But that doesn't mean that prayer should stop. On the contrary, it is needed now more than ever. It is time to get creative in the ways we pray: connect with each other online or by phone, write prayers and post them on the internet, pray alone or with those in your house, create a sanctuary or altar in your home. Learn new ways of connecting spiritually and expressing the hope of your heart. It is hard to not be able to pray in the ways we are accustomed to... but the longings of our souls do not cease just because we are physically separated from our house of prayer or our spiritual community. Is it harder? Yes, of course. But this is a time that calls for courage, hope, and creativity. We must continue to nourish these times with the blessedness of our prayers.
Our world is changing rapidly before our eyes. Change can be scary, but it is also an opportunity for innovation and possibility. Pray that the changes taking place will ultimately lead to the healing and wholeness of all humanity where we awaken to the sacredness of our beloved Mother Earth. Real change is happening now. Let us ready ourselves to face the new day with patience, compassion, hope, integrity, and courage.
Blessed Be
Sivani Katie Gelfand is the Director of Religious Exploration at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans, the congregation in which she was raised. Concurrent to this ministry she is also a Reiki Master Teacher and is studying Interfaith Spiritual Guidance at the Rowe Center. Sivani believes healing is the process of strengthening, deepening, and surrendering ourselves in the name of transformation. She is committed to compassionately supporting others along their journey to wholeness by guiding individuals to nurture and trust the deep wisdom of their own hearts. sivanistar.com
Photo by Sivani Katie Gelfand of Statue at Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, New Mexico depicting "Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha” 1656-1680, first Indian of North America to be promoted a Saint. Estella Loretto, Artist, the artist is honored to share the genuine spirit of “Kateri" embracing Kindness, Forgiveness, Love, Compassion and Joyful Peace.
