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Therapy A to Z Spirit Prayer
Therapy A to Z Spirit Prayer
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| Saturday, 05 January 2008 12:03 | |
OverviewPrayer is an address to an entity thought to be greater than oneself (the word prayer comes from the Latin precarious, which means “obtained by asking”. The practice is rooted in the belief that there is a power larger and wiser than our human selves, that can influence our lives.HistoryPrayer is probably as old as mankind and is part of virtually every religion in the world. However, although it is often linked to religion, prayer can be practiced outside the realm of a specific religion. Not surprisingly, many people feel a deep sense of calm after praying like meditation, prayer has been found to promote a feeling of relaxation that is conducive to both mental and physical health. It seems that prayer can be expressed out loud or in thought, alone or in a group. It typically consists of praise, thanksgiving, a request, or a confession. Most types of prayer can be divided into four categories: meditative prayer, ritualistic prayer, petitionary prayer and conversational prayer Meditative prayer focuses on a particular topic, word, sound, or phrase in order to induce a state of relaxation. It may also create a receptive state in which one is able to hear God. Ritualistic prayer involves reciting texts that have been learned as part of a particular religious tradition or training. Petitionary prayer consists of addressing a divine being directly to request something, such as guidance or physical healing for oneself or another person (the letter is known as intercessory prayer, and is a form of what is know in alternative medicine as non-local or distant healing)Conversational prayer involves speaking on an very personal level with God about feelings, thoughts and needs. Today polls show that faith and prayer can benefit health, centres and schools are being set up for spirituality and healing. BenefitsLike many aspects of spirituality, exactly how prayer works is a mystery, magical. Several theories exist. The easiest physiological explanation is that prayer helps people handle stress more effectively. During any tense or anxiety-producing situation, the body’s adrenal glands release chemicals that raise the heart rate and blood pressure and lower immunity. Praying helps people maintain lower stress levels, thus enhancing immunity and promoting health in general. In addition people who pray tend to have a sense of purpose and to find meaning in life. Such a positive outlook also may promote health and well-being. In recent years, many studies have appeared about the efficacy of distant healing for various medical conditions. However, just how prayer can help people across vast distances continues to evade conventional or physical explanation. Research reveals that people who pray have lower depression and suicide rates. Prayer even appears to lower blood pressure.ProcedureIf you find that you are having trouble learning to pray, or want to investigate your spirituality in other ways, consult a spiritual advisor, either at a healing or spiritual centre. Remember you can pray anywhere you like, in a parked car, in your office, at home, at church, wherever is comfortable for you, the divine/God understands.Source of information: Medicomm |