Category: Welcoming Prayer

Father Carl Arico on Welcoming Prayer

9/21/2016

Helpful clarification about what Welcoming Prayer is, and isn't, from Father Carl Arico from Contemplative Outreach:

"Just a reminder of the movements of the Welcoming Prayer - sink into and feel the sensation or inner response located in your body, welcome the Indwelling Presence, then affirm the letting go statements.

We are not being asked to let go of security, affection and control. We are being asked to let go of the desire for, the attachment to or even the addictive character that has encrusted around these natural and necessary energies."

Read more of The Welcoming Prayer and "letting go of the desire for security, affection, and control" at Contemplative Outreach.

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A Slightly New Perspective on the Welcoming Prayer

7/1/2013

By Julia Dady

I experienced a slightly new perspective on the Welcoming Prayer recently that I thought might be worth sharing. I have heard the Welcoming Prayer presented in the context of integrating our Centering Prayer practices with our lives, in particular, helping us through what we usually think of as "negative" emotions or experiences. It certainly has much value in those areas. But it occurred to me that there may be much value to applying it also with some of the "positive" emotions and experiences as well.

Recently, I had a particularly good day and was feeling quite on top of things, I thought "whew – life is good, very good ... everything is just great!" Well, there is nothing wrong about feeling that way, of course, but it occurred to me that maybe even the good emotions can be rooted in the false self needs for power/control, esteem/affection and security, too. The "positive" emotions feel so very good, that there can be a tendency to try to structure one’s life energies around creating or prolonging them. If the roots of those experiences are in the false self, I imagine much disorder can happen as well, such as with addiction, neglect or lack of appreciation of other necessary things in our lives.

So one day I decided to try the Welcoming Prayer and invite God into my "good" emotions. I invited the awareness of letting go of power/control, esteem/affection, and security within my positive emotions of well-being and the feeling that I was "on top of things (i.e., everything was under "control"!).

Something very subtle started to happen. It may not be fully revealed to me in my lifetime, but seems to be an invitation. There is the typical intellectual understanding of the transient nature of the positive emotions which we all have come to know through our life experiences. Beyond that, however, I felt a much deeper awareness and acceptance of the moment and a willingness to allow it to come and to pass without the need to hold on to it. This subtle revelation was gentle and without shame – for I could accept, honor, and celebrate the goodness of the moment for what it truly was. I felt a momentary freedom to experience without the need to grasp or claim ownership or entitlement. Now the journey begins again and the lesson will take much practice. Whew, life is good, very good!

Julia Dady is a member of St. Matt's Centering Prayer Group in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Pilgrimage of the Heart

2/14/2010

By Diane Boruff

On Saturday, February 13 over 70 people gathered at Colonial Church in Edina to hear Susan Komis from Contemplative Outreach International present a full day workshop on The Human Condition, The Welcoming Prayer and The Prayer of Forgiveness. Prayer was central to the day as there were 2 sessions of centering prayer in addition to sessions practicing the welcoming prayer and the prayer of forgiveness.

The morning session was devoted to The Human Condition and Divine Therapy as described by Fr. Thomas Keating in his book Invitation to Love. She illustrated out illusions and delusions; how we look for happiness in all the wrong places as well as our lack of awareness of the presence of God in our life. The DIS-ease and suffering of the False Self value system keep us from the happiness that we seek and keep us rooted in fear. Susan spoke of transformation and the desire to know when we have "arrived."

After reviewing the False Self, Susan introduced the three primary steps of letting go that allow us to be open to the process of transformation.

1. Awareness: a peaceful acknowledgement of our self. Ever so gently make friends with your false self.
2. Realization: you are powerless to change the way you are. It is bringing this to God. A regular practice of Centering Prayer or interior process facilitates this.
3. Consent: to allow the Holy Spirit to move and work in our heart and life.

Two means of bringing the gifts of centering prayer into daily life are the welcoming prayer and the prayer of forgiveness. The Welcoming Prayer deals with the wounds of the false self. It is a method that helps forestall the false self on a daily basis. Vilkommen can translate as come and make welcome. This prayer engages the body, mind and spirit as we focus, feel and welcome the divine indwelling by letting go. “Welcome. I let go of the desire for security, affection, and control. Welcome, I let go of the desire to change this feeling/sensation.” This prayer deals with the reality of what is happening now. The Prayer of Forgiveness is a guided meditation that allows a letting go of wounds and hurts from the past. Forgiveness is the name of love in a wounded world. Both of these prayers, as does centering prayer, have a simple format but are life-changing when practiced.

For me the day was energizing, inspiring, and challenging. My heart sings in joy with the gift of praying with so many people. The challenge of being faithful to the practice of centering prayer and extending it into daily life seems easier when supported by friends. The lovely setting and the wonderful hospitality at Colonial Church allowed us to relax and listen with open hearts. I am grateful for Susan’s presence and teaching and for all of you who shared in this beautiful and meaningful day of prayer and enrichment.

Diane Boruff is a presenter of Centering Prayer and a member of the Minnesota Contemplative Outreach Leadership Team.

Slowing Down - Experiencing God

6/1/2009

By Carolyn Young

Is Life becoming unmanageable? Are you looking for and seeking God, but not experiencing God as God truly is? Do your relationships with family, friends and others seem to lack depth? Are you running out of steam? My recent answer to all of these questions was a reluctant "yes". I confess I love to create, implement and be a part of all the busy externals. But with that "yes" I knew I must take time to sit back and evaluate my "doing"

In daily life the Spirit is speaking in various ways. Christ is present under different disguises... The mystery of Christ is at work in everything, however humble or humdrum. Our response can be inspired by the false self or by the Spirit.
--Awakenings by Thomas Keating

Having been a Centering Prayer daily practitioner for the past twenty years, my first priority had been to seek a deeper relationship with God. Yet my actions were not bearing fruit and I was out of harmony with God, myself and others. I was trying to cram too much "doing" into my life. Impatience, shortcuts and tiredness had crept into the "doing". Everything had become unmanageable. This has happened before, but each time I learn something new and now the true self calls me up short again before I go too far.

I order myself to "slow down" without success. But this takes more than my own "self-sufficiency" so I begin to probe with God’s help by asking myself things like: How much do I want to slow down? Do I think my contributions to the kingdom are so very important and necessary? Are my desires for accomplishment, approval, esteem, and recognition getting out of hand? Am I too caught up in indulging my own fantasies? I conclude that the false self is pulling the wagon again and I am loosing a sense of God's presence.

But, how badly do I want to slow down? I even need God’s help for gaining a greater desire to overcome such busyness. What are my fears around slowing down? Things won’t get done? There won’t be enough money? I won’t be as highly valued? Would I feel guilty slowing down and saying "no"? Maybe I’d be left out I might even miss out on something.

A second fruit of the night of spirit is freedom from the domination of any emotion…This takes place not be repressing or unduly suppressing unwanted emotions by sheer will power, but by accepting and integrating them into the rational and intuitive parts of our nature.
--Invitation to Love by Thomas Keating

When Jesus calls us to "wake up", he is calling us to a new awareness. Because we know that we carry much of our human suffering in our body, the body becomes a helpful tool for calling attention to what we need to "let go" of.

So begins a process that comes out of our Centering Prayer midst the daily activities. Stop for a minute and notice the energy in the body; where is it? How intense is it? Where are the tense places in my body? How does it vary from activity to activity? I noticed that I was preparing meals with a ferocity that scared a well peeled carrot. I was looking at the new spring season without smiling back. I was listening to a friend without really hearing. With such awareness, I can begin to use the welcoming prayer at the moment I notice these things or I can take time later on to recall these feelings and pray. "Welcome pain, welcome tension, welcome confusion. Let us get to know each other? Let’s not continue this battle."

I am slowing down the multi-tasking, but my thoughts are still running the show. Push! Push! Push! Repetitious mental lists recycle only to lodge more discomfort into my well being and my other relationships. What are my emotions doing? Fear speaks, "You might not get everything done that you said you would". Sadness hovers over the lost times I might have enjoyed more had I not been so busy. Once again "Welcome fear, welcome sadness I will not resist you." I want to feel you and be aware of you so I do not have to react to you so spuriously. As I become more acquainted with all the parts of this "doing" I begin the next part of the Welcoming Prayer:

The Welcoming Prayer
May I let go of the desire for approval and affection.
May I let go of the desire for power and control.
May I let go of the desire for security and survival.
May I let go of the desire to change the situation.

From Contemplative Outreach LTD

Carolyn Young is a member of the Minnesota Contemplative Outreach Committee

Father Carl Arico on Welcoming Prayer

A Slightly New Perspective on the Welcoming Prayer

Pilgrimage of the Heart

Slowing Down - Experiencing God

Presence & Action Blog

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