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Mindfulness - The prayer of light

Aug 10, 2024
 

 This is Mindfulness class number 57 on the Dojiva membership site!

In moments when I have felt a discomfort or negativity about somebody, I have always found the prayer of light practice to be instantly healing. I leaned this poem/prayer from a friend on a yoga trainer 15 years ago.

This practice has a dual purpose. You can set your intention to have a relative, friend or associate receive the blessings, or your energy could be directed to a person or place that you have a disgruntlement with.

The premise is to let go of any negative emotions associated with that person/place. This can help you move forward as you release old tensions/grudges.

The practice

On either occasion, you first repeat the poem about yourself. Then, for the second round you can choose to send the blessings to a friend who needs healing or when appropriate you can bring to mind that person who is not on your friend list! 

As part of embodiment and clearing the energy around you, we include weight transfer and arm gestures, so have plenty of space.

More notes to read below… for now, here is the poem:

Love before me
Love behind me
Love at my left
Love at my right
Love above me
Love below me
Love unto me
Love in my surroundings
Love to all
Love to the Universe

* * * *

Peace before me
Peace behind me
Peace at my left
Peace at my right
Peace above me
Peace below me
Peace unto me
Peace in my surroundings
Peace to all
Peace to the Universe

* * * *

Light before me
Light behind me
Light at my left
Light at my right
Light above me
Light below me
Light unto me
Light in my surroundings
Light to all
Light to the Universe

For the second round, we simply replace the word ‘me’ for ‘you’.

Why do this practice?

It maybe that you are carrying a negative association with an individual, a group or even a place that triggers/exaggerates your tension. Even just the thought of that can fill you will uncomfortable feelings. The situation is not necessarily happening now, but the memory/past is strong enough to grab your attention and get a physical response that is not pleasant.

But what if you were to perceive those who wronged you at some point as healed, healthy and balanced on the inside? Now, forgiveness is not easy and it doesn’t mean you have to forget. You can still maintain integrity and have a sense of wisdom about that person or situation but on the inside, you come to some layer of acceptance and inner peace.

Other points to consider:

  • A past situation may not have been as personal as you thought
  • You might have had a similar experience with somebody else so were pre-loaded/more easily triggered
  • And, it maybe that a person just had so much anger inside that it got spilled out when you were there… ‘the wrong place at the wrong time
  • The mirror effect. Sometimes an aspect of somebody’s personality that you don’t like is a reflection of an unhealed part of yourself
  • The ‘energy’ of the past experience can be shifted to lay a clearer future for all parties 

But why change your mind about somebody?

In three words… to be free! When you forgive, you don’t just change the past you change the future. It’s a way to start a fresh, to feel more at ease within yourself and this maybe a key (missing) piece in releasing more deeply stored tension. You can then enjoy day to life more fully and sleep more soundly at night.

Next time you recall or experience an uncomfortable situation about somebody, why not give the ‘prayer of light’ a try and notice if you feel more settled after?

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