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The spiritual practice of Centering Prayer has a long history in Christian meditation practice. It is one that the Soul Companion groups meeting at church are beginning to learn and explore. I thought I would introduce the guidelines in this article as a follow-up to my encouragement to meditate a few weeks ago. There are many books written on this practice that you can access to learn more of its depth. But you will learn it just by practicing as well.

Centering Prayer Guidelines

(developed by Father Thomas Keating with guidance from the book The Cloud of Unknowing.

The mind is a constant stream of thoughts and) that is normal. The intention of Centering Prayer is:  if you catch yourself thinking, you let the thought go.  It is returning to God each time.

The practice is over and over, a repeat of what Jesus said at Gethsemane: “Not my will, but Your Will be done.”

To help bring you back from the thought to the inner silence, a Sacred Word is used. It can be “Jesus” or “Abba” or “open” or “listen” or any word of this nature. Short and simple and one that comes to you and that you keep. You do not keep changing it during the prayer. Or share it with others. It doesn’t have to be “special”. Trust what word comes to you rather than one you try to come up with.

Sit in a comfortable but erect position. Relax your jaw by putting tip of your tongue behind your upper front teeth. Take slow breaths. Then simply pay attention to your inner self.

The Four R’s: (The Art of Letting Go)

Resist no thought.

Retain no thought.

React to no thought.

Return ever so gently to the Sacred Word.

There is no set goal in Centering Prayer; this is part of the surrendering to not knowing, trusting that God is working in the dark with great love and attunement.

Begin by sitting still for five minutes, but gradually build up to 20 minutes daily.

Pastor Marcia Wakeland is a retired ELCA pastor, a spiritual director and a listening advocate. She is interested in the actual experience of having faith and how that is lived out. She can be reached at mwakeland@gmail.com for comments or more questions Her ongoing blog of living out spiritual practices is listeninglife.live