The Welcoming Prayer
In her book, Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, Cynthia Bourgeault devotes a chapter to The Welcoming Prayer. The welcoming prayer was written by Mary Mrowzowski and popularized by Father Thomas Keating. It has been described as "consent-on-the-go."
The steps are simple. When we feel a strong emotion, be it positive of negative:
1. Feel and sink into what you are experiencing this moment in your body.
2. “Welcome†what you are experiencing this moment in your body as an opportunity to consent to the Divine Indwelling.
3. Let go by saying “I let go of my desire for security, affection, control and embrace this moment as it is.â€
You can learn more about the prayer, it's history, and it's practice on the Contemplative Outreach website.
In Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, Bourgeault recognizes this practice as particualrly useful in breaking a pattern/cycle of behaviors in which we often find ourselves.
The steps are simple. When we feel a strong emotion, be it positive of negative:
1. Feel and sink into what you are experiencing this moment in your body.
2. “Welcome†what you are experiencing this moment in your body as an opportunity to consent to the Divine Indwelling.
3. Let go by saying “I let go of my desire for security, affection, control and embrace this moment as it is.â€
You can learn more about the prayer, it's history, and it's practice on the Contemplative Outreach website.
In Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening, Bourgeault recognizes this practice as particualrly useful in breaking a pattern/cycle of behaviors in which we often find ourselves.
![](https://storage2.snappages.site/R559N9/assets/images/12699808_721x452_500.png)
As we engage people and life, we find ourselves being triggered by certan circumstances and behaviors based on what our "emotional programs for happiness" are (the need for power/control, esteem/affection, and/or security/survival. When we feel that building frustration, we often give ourselves over to emotional turmoil which can lead to harmful, offending behaviors or withdrawal. However, there is an opportunity to break that loop when we start to feel the frustration rising (5A) above. We can take the opportunity to practice the welcoming prayer and step outside of the vicious cycle.
Have you ever tried this practice? What was your experience?
Have you ever tried this practice? What was your experience?
Posted in Library of Spiritual Practice
Posted in Cynthia Bourgeault, Thomas Keating, Welcoming Prayer
Posted in Cynthia Bourgeault, Thomas Keating, Welcoming Prayer
Recent
Archive
2024
January
February
March
The Daily: Wednesday March 6, 2024The Daily: Monday March 11, 2024The Daily: Tuesday March 12, 2024The Daily: Wednesday March 13, 2024The Daily: Thursday March 14, 2024The Daily: Friday March 15, 2024The Daily: Saturday March 16, 2024The Daily: Sunday March 17, 2024The Daily: Monday March 18, 2024The Daily: Tuesday March 19, 2024The Daily: Wednesday March 20, 2024The Daily: Thursday March 21, 2024The Daily: Friday March 22, 2024The Daily: Saturday March 23, 2024
April
May
The Daily: Wednesday May 1, 2024The Daily: Thursday May 2, 2024The Daily: Friday May 3, 2024The Daily: Saturday May 4, 2024The Daily: Sunday May 5, 2024The Daily: Monday May 6, 2024The Daily: Tuesday May 7, 2024The Daily: Wednesday May 8, 2024The Daily: Thursday May 9, 2024The Daily: Friday May 10, 2024The Daily: Saturday May 11, 2024The Daily: Tuesday May 14, 2024The Daily: Monday May 20, 2024The Daily: Tuesday May 21, 2024The Daily: Wednesday May 22, 2024
June
The Daily: Wednesday June 5, 2024The Daily: Thursday June 6, 2024The Daily: Friday June 7, 2024The Daily: Saturday June 8, 2024The Daily: Sunday June 9, 2024The Daily: Monday June 10, 2024The Daily: Tuesday June 11, 2024The Daily: Wednesday June 12, 2024The Daily: Thursday June 13, 2024The Daily: Friday June 14, 2024The Daily: Saturday June 15, 2024The Daily: Sunday June 16, 2024The Daily: Monday June 17, 2024The Daily: Tuesday June 18, 2024The Daily: Wednesday June 19, 2024The Daily: Thursday June 20, 2024The Daily: Friday June 21, 2024The Daily: Saturday June 22, 2024The Daily: Sunday June 23, 2024The Daily: Monday June 24, 2024The Daily: Tuesday June 25, 2024The Daily: Wednesday June 26, 2024The Daily: Thursday June 27, 2024The Daily: Friday June 28, 2024The Daily: Saturday June 29, 2024
July
The Daily: Sunday June 30, 2024The Daily: Monday July 1, 2024The Daily: Tuesday July 2, 2024The Daily: Wednesday July 3, 2024The Daily: Thursday July 4, 2024The Daily: Friday July 5, 2024The Daily: Saturday July 6, 2024The Daily: Sunday July 7, 2024The Daily: Monday July 8, 2024The Daily: Tuesday July 9, 2024The Daily: Friday July 12, 2024The Daily: Saturday July 13, 2024The Daily: Tuesday July 30, 2024The Daily: Wednesday July 31, 2024
2023
No Comments