Thomas Leigh Diary

How I meditate #6: the Affirmative Prayer

So far I've introduced You two wider relaxation techniques. You can use them for various purposes: they can help You in achieving deeper relaxation state and by that they can improve Your meditation experience. Also they can come in handy if You intend to perform some more advanced sessions (like hypnotic regression or the Affirmative Prayer). Today I'm going to discuss the last one.

The Affirmative Prayer

First let's define an affirmation. My definition is as follows:

Affirmation - a sentence or set of sentences describing as accurately and precisely as possible Our desired effect, as already achieved.

From that point it should be easy to understand the Affirmative Prayer concept - which I could define like that:

The Affirmative Prayer - a mix of relaxation or meditation combined with visualizations and affirmations performed during it.

In other words what I call "the Affirmative Prayer" is an application of affirmation while meditation.

Why to combine the two?

The point is to use all meditation profits as an "elevating force" (or "fertile soil") for Our affirmations. You can look at it as growing and watering the plant You care about. It's obvious that the proper soil will be an important matter for You to pay attention - because this is the major factor which influences the quality of Your plant's growth (its speed and scale). The same in the meditation context: You can use all its benefits as the fertile soil "to cultivate" Your desires (through affirmations). So...

How to do that?

If You have read previous article on wider relaxation techniques it should be easy because the only thing You need is to add one single element to Your relaxation session. And probably You already know what it is: Your affirmations.

In this article I'm not going to focus on affirmation subject as such, so let's focus on the essence: what You need to have. You need to have Your affirmations defined before the session. It goes along with the proper intention - because there are quite similar things with that difference that affirmations are extended intentions. For example You may have the intention of improving Your relationship with God, the Universe - or to gain guidance. You can verbalize that intention to the affirmative form, constructing sentences like - for example:

I'm in close touch with My Higher Self.

I'm wide opened towards receiving guidance which significantly helps Me take the right direction in My life.

I receive that guidance, recognize and understand it. I am able to apply this knowledge into My everyday life.

Although classic definition of affirmation emphasizes putting Your desire as already achieved - I find very useful to use another forms as well, more prayer-like, for example:

I ask You for guidance and help in life. Please guide Me and help Me to take the most right direction in any circumstances. Please light My path and help Me to achieve My desires in the most appropriate and comfortable way which could suit Me and satisfy My most. Lead Me every day, let Me feel Your presence close to Me, let Me feel better, more certain, self-confident and grounded in the Inner Peace and Knowing. Let Me feel safe, secure and comfortable knowing that every situation, every circumstance has its temporary hidden purpose: it is supposed to benefit Me one way or another. Help Me to perceive the Universe and the whole life as friendly, kind and caring about Me. Help Me to take the positive attitude most often.

And so on and so forth. These are just examples to give You a brief understanding how other way You can define Your affirmations. In that way it is easier to think of it like a prayer - imagine that You are meeting Your closest friend ever (it may be God, it may be Universe, it may be Your Higher Self - as You prefer). And then imagine You are supposed to tell Him how do You feel in life and what You would wish to achieve, what way of everyday life You would like to lead. You need just to render all of it, like talking with Your closest friend after Your heart, being completely honest, sincere and feeling comfortably with that candidness.

So when You have Your affirmations already defined - keep them in mind and begin Your deeper relaxation session. Perform the technique You prefer and when You feel You are engaged deep enough - perform Your affirmations. Start saying them out loud in Your mind. And feel them, feel their meaning - the meaning of every sentence, every statement. Feel all the feelings attached to it, feel Your intentions - and Your desires; become aware how does it feel when You can in fact talk with the one who cares about You a lot and who is listening to You. Be as precise and open as You can - and in the same time be as mindful as it is possible in order to be aware of every feeling. Feelings are very important because they indicate how appropriate Your affirmations are. The most appropriate are the ones which move You most - and move You in a positive way.

So You can treat affirmations like seeds which You sow in Your spiritual space, and in Your subconscious also - in order to reap desired effects in Your so called reality.