Do you Pray?

[healeri2]

I just asked someone if they prayed and they said, "yes sometimes when I want something from the universe."

So I'm wondering what the average is for people who pray and I'm wondering if people pray for other reasons than wanting something either for yourself or wanting something for someone else. Do people usually pray only when they want something or are asking for something?

[Rudas Starblaze]

sure, i pray thanks for my blessings.

[Greymuse]

I have not prayed in a very long time. The last time I prayed, it was an angry, hurt, awful insult to God as I knew him/her/it, and since then I feel too guilty to go back. Though back when I used to pray, I often prayed just for thanks or for blessings on others.

[~Anamorata~]

I do almost every day...prayers for thanks...for help...and for blessings on others and my family.

[Flaire-FireStar]

No.

[PropheticMonkey]

I pray every day to keep the connection with my God alive and well. Its helped me get through the day more than once

[Agaliha]

Yup. I pray to who ever's name comes most natural at the moment, whether it's a monothiestic God or a polythiestic God/Goddess....I see them all as being connected. I also pray to the Divine, the source of everything including the Gods. So one day I can be talking to Allah or Yehweh and the next Bast and Saraswati-- or who ever!
I say thanks, ask for guidance and sometimes just talk.
I'm quite informal too, but that has never been a problem.

[SilverClaw]

I pray for a variety of reason not just when I need soemthing.

[Penthesilea]

I just asked someone if they prayed and they said, "yes sometimes when I want something from the universe."

So I'm wondering what the average is for people who pray and I'm wondering if people pray for other reasons than wanting something either for yourself or wanting something for someone else. Do people usually pray only when they want something or are asking for something?I pray. Most often, I talk to the appropriate deity about whatever is on my mind. I don't necessarily want something. I just need to talk to Them sometimes.

[Mouse]

Yes I pray. I know I ask selfishly for things more often than I should.
I also pray to give thanks, or just because I want/need to talk.

[LacyRoze]

I pray daily. I say a prayer of thanks for the blessings in my life as well as praying for guidance, peace, etc. I don't pray only when I need something. I often wake up in the morning and say a prayer of thanks for a beautiful day...

[RavenMoonshadow]

I Pray to Danu every day, and I thank her for every thing good that happens to me because I know she is smiling on her child

[Shadowsong]

I write my prayers down each and every day to Godde (aka the UNIVERSE)
PS when I say Godde I mean the genderless force that some see to be the source of all the Divine. ;) Just to clarify

[RainDance]

i pray , just not to "god"
[im sorry if that might have offended anyone what so ever.]

[Ninjakitten]

I seem to bitch heavenward more often than actually pray lately. So much for my good ol Christian faith and values. I do pray for others, and I sometimes have my head on straight enough that if all the stupid little junk are things I blame Godde for than I should also give Him/Her just as much credit for all the little nice blessings I get. Too bad I'm blinded by a genetic form of depression (I've had suicides in my genetic family) so I'm sure I miss a lot of the little blessings.

But to answer the question, yes, I do pray.

[LadyTrinity]

Not everyday but I pray

[kissesree]

define "pray"...............

[HeavensHope]

I sort of pray....basically it's gotten to be a routine where I dont have to say anything anymore I just clap my hands together and say Heavenly father, blah blah and that's it. Same old stuff I say everyday. I dont have to say it because I think it, I figure the message will get across either way. A prayer for the same stuff I always pray for, thanks for everything that i have and take care of all those that I care about and so on. Whereever my kitty is I hope she's safe and healthy. If things are going bad lately, then I take the time to say it outloud and add stuff like, please help me find a job, please help me do well on this test, etc.

FYI: I'm not actually praying to the christian 'God', just whoevers out there.

[saya]

I pray every few days; not just asking for things, but thanking goddess for my blessings too or just to talk..! ^^

[Romani Vixen]

I pray a lot! I pray when I need something, when I'm thankful for something, when something upsets me, when something makes me happy... Basically, I talk to Netjer (the Totality Divine) and different Aspects all the time!!!

I also talk to myself a lot, and seeing that I'm a Goddess.... ;P

[TaysatWesir]

I rarely pray if only for those who need it like in the energy request thread or my mother.

[Childof_theMorrigan]

yes i pray, for various reasons

[CoolJ]

Anyone who wants the sun to come up tomorrow prays, somehow, someway.

[Pure Ahimsa]

With my thoughts, words and actions I let the universe know about me. That is how I pray, and sometimes, I pray in a conversational sort of way, like... I would talk to a specifc deity or Spirit or Goddess loosely like a best friend or sometimes seriously and ask for healing energies. I do, though, ask for things, but I know that I have to put effort into it.

[Anyanka]

Yes I do pray. It helps me and I pray for a myriad of reasons.

[LyraDragonStar]

Yes and No. Not regularly, mainly when I think about it or if I send healing energies, I'll ask the Angels to send that message for me. Or sometimes I'll just talk. Example: The weather was *perfect* the other day walking home, I just LOVED it, so I told the Goddess 'Thank You so much for bringing me such a day. Fall is on it's way, and I hope more days so beautiful will come.'

Ya know what I mean?

[halfwaynowhere]

yes and no... i pray to Diana and Persephone, but i don't see them as literal beings or anything, just a simple way to represent life and nature and such... Diana when i want to talk to a mother figure, Persephone when i want to talk to a maiden figure... but really its just a way to put my thoughts out in the open for self-reflection.. i don't ask for things, i ask for ideas...

[wolf]

Yes, absolutely, yes!!

Praying to petition is only one aspect ... pray for honor, pray for thanks, pray for joy. All of the above.

[BlackMagicalCat]

I pray all the time.For others,and for myself.

And also I always am talking with God,but especially when Im not feeling too well,Im sorry to say.

But God doesnt seem to mind me turning to him when Im bummed out,Im starting to wonder if thats not his way to get me to pray and to turn to him.Im afraid if things were easy,I might forget him,and he would be sad.

I love God and he is the one who I run to first,and I trust him.He doesnt always give me what I want,and I sure wish he would make me rich.I told him the other day,I feel like a nobody,but to him,I guess Im a somebody,but I feel that way anyway.

Sometimes I get mad at God for not doing what I asked,and I do complain in my prayers to him,but I do it with respect.The Lord is the best friend I have ever had.

I do pray to the bible Goddess,the one who I believe sent me my cat(I could be wrong)but Im not to sure who she is,and so many christians are telling me there isnt one,but I believe there is,because I feel loved by her.So I thank her from time to time,and let her know Im not ashamed of her.I wear my pentacle to honour her.

So far I havent heard any rebuke from God yet,about praying to her.

My heart cries out to God in my pain,and in my loneliness,and when Im suffering,both in my heart,and in my body.I have always been that way.When I see another suffering,I lift them up to God.

[Amethyst Rose]

You needed an 'other' option in there, odd as it sounds. :) I don't consider what I do to be praying.... it's communing...talking, if you will. I talk to the universe the same as I would a family member. And I actually don't ask anything of the universe, or god/dess, whatever you call it.... we just talk. If anything I ask for advice, guidance, but never a solution for anything.

You see....that's the reason why I left Christianity. My relationship with the Christian god was based on give and take. It was a very selfish relationship, on both sides, I think. It was a, "if you do this, I'll do this" relationship and it wasn't healthy. Now my relationship with the universe...The One... is one of sharing....it's one of love....it knows my needs and gives what it can when it knows it's needed.... i don't need to ask for it. :)

[Teresa]

Yes, I pray daily and even the healing is usually a form of a prayer to the Creator. I also ask my ancestors for help and direction at times. Most of my spells are a form of a prayer like a prayer in a bottle, bag, on a candle etc as well.I pray for things like guidance and direction for myself and I pray for others .

[Shanti]

I have no reason to. My life is in my hands. All our lives, in my opinion are, in our own hands.
There is no force that makes change or makes things better, we do that.
I dont believe in a higher power!!
If I give thanks its to a tree or my dog or my SO or to me!!
If I want something I use me to make it happen.

So no I dont pray. I am right here, I already no whats going on. :)

[KaimelarFeylove]

i don't really know how to awnse3r the poll...

I pray, but not concouisly. I don't stop and close my eyes to pray or anything, i just talk, sometimes outloud, sometimes just in my head. I say things to the universe at large. I ask for help, express my frustration, whatever.

but i don't really see it as praying sometimes. Sometimes its just nice to have an internal, or even external, monolouge, and it helps me work things out for myself.

[Pure Ahimsa]

Praying, to me, is also a form of medidation. It organizes your thoughts, and can show you what is really important in life.

[Rich]

i don't pray its overratted

[Renny]

I don't really like the word praying

I give thanks when I feel like I need to... and I ask for things... but I like to think of it as talking to my gods

[ap Dafydd]

Yes, often. Don't see that it's in any way unPagan to ask for a blessing or intercession by the Powers.

gwyn eich byd

Ffred

[Qumran]

...The last time I prayed, it was an angry, hurt, awful insult to God as I knew him/her/it, and since then I feel too guilty to go back. Though back when I used to pray, I often prayed just for thanks or for blessings on others.

My heart goes out to you. Please reconsider returning to your prayers for these 3 special reasons:

1) Every parent has had a child that lashed out at them in anger or frustration. Being a parent of 3 myself, I can tell you, my love for them is as strong as ever. A temporary insult would hurt far less than never hearing from them again.

2) Praying for "blessings on others" is a great reason to keep praying, despite any beef you may have with God/dess.

3) Life is a gift not a "given" to be taken for granted. Give thanks everday for being aware and alive- it will heal any rift betwen you and the Deity(ies.)

[LittlePerson]

I do pray. Sometimes it's just to talk. Sometimes it's to give thanks, and it's not always to G-d but sometimes to plants and animals for giving of themselves for our nourishment. I pray for blessings for myself and others. Lately, though, I find I only need to when I'm not thinking the prayer inside because as others have said, that's just as good if you're just thinking things. If I think that Elohim is all around us and omnipotent then why should I have to formally pray for Him/Her to know what I'm wishing?

[StormVixen]

i don't really know how to awnse3r the poll...

I pray, but not concouisly. I don't stop and close my eyes to pray or anything, i just talk, sometimes outloud, sometimes just in my head. I say things to the universe at large. I ask for help, express my frustration, whatever.

but i don't really see it as praying sometimes. Sometimes its just nice to have an internal, or even external, monolouge, and it helps me work things out for myself.

i do that as well as talking to the deity commenly known as "Cernunnos" i talk to him most days!

[Kalika]

Every night, for the safety and protection of my loved ones.

:p

[Sequoia]

I pray for support, I pray in thanks, I pray for results ;) , I pray 'just to say hello', I pray to feel better, I pray for many reasons :hehehehe:

[AlAskendir]

I just asked someone if they prayed and they said, "yes sometimes when I want something from the universe."

So I'm wondering what the average is for people who pray and I'm wondering if people pray for other reasons than wanting something either for yourself or wanting something for someone else. Do people usually pray only when they want something or are asking for something?

Other than when I want stuff ro my life to change, I pray to be changed myself. I do stuff that other people call prayers, but for me prayers are requests, and the affirmations and talking with Deities in circle that I do I do not consider to be praying.

[gwendar]

Yeah, sometimes I pray.
But I don't know why... I don't really believe anyone hears...
I guess it's kind of a thought focus thing...
and I guess a wish that there was someone to hear.

[Penthesilea]

Doing quite a bit right now......

[Derwin]

I really only pray when i'm in trouble.

[Pesha]

Yes I pray. All the time forfriends and family and people I am doing energy work for. I pray to the Goddess and sometimes to the God. Especially when animals are sick for it is the God who watchs over them more so than the Goddess as far as I was taught.

BB
DS.

[Etoile]

Yes, for all sorts of reasons. Most often to acknowlegde and say hello.

[fay]

I don't know that I'd call it praying. Most nights I will sit in front of my altar and meditate and often talk to the Goddess and God. Also I will often talk to them in my head when I am out, especially if I see something beautiful. I'm quite big on appreciation and noticing what you have and being thankful for it.
So if that's praying, then yes I pray :)

blessed be

[misty]

yep, I do.

[Blair]

I pray when I need something major or I need some support or good energy, I also use prayer to recognize special days

[BostonMagic]

I pray. I give thanks every time I eat, and every morning I try to give thanks for the good things. I try not to only pray for things I want or when I feel "needy", but those are the times I tend to have a conversation asking for all the blanks to be filled. I know that isn't the way to really pray, since everything is available to us always - I just keep forgetting that. I'm getting better.

[donatello51]

Nope I don't pray. It's me and the universe. I take what happens and deal with it. Hard times and good times it's all part of life and EVERYONE has to deal with it. If I need help to get though the tougher times I talk to family and friends. No need for mythical invisible father, mothers or giant rabbits named Harvey. Life is a place where anything can and will happen. No one moves you like a piece in a chess game your on your own and you make the moves all on your own. If you deal poorly with life you have lots of scars but you survive. If you deal wonderfully with life you only have fewer scars but your still just a surviver just as the poor dealer is. Scars be signs of charactor and growth or just scars to show been there done that. :spinnysmi

[BostonMagic]

I have not prayed in a very long time. The last time I prayed, it was an angry, hurt, awful insult to God as I knew him/her/it, and since then I feel too guilty to go back. Though back when I used to pray, I often prayed just for thanks or for blessings on others.

Grey, whatever God you pray to is a lot smarter than us, and will totally forgive you. I just know it. Try again.

[Khaelo]

Yes, I pray. Usually, the reason is connection to whoever I'm praying to. Either I feel a sudden connection, or I need one, or I want to give thanks for something that went right in the deity's sphere, or I need strength to make something go right, or it's the deity's holyday, or... etc. Aside from the "hello, are you there?" mental dialogues (monologues? :lol: ), I also use alternative prayers. Dance and art can be prayerful, too. Whatever keeps me in touch with the gods, I consider to be prayer. :)

[Fairy Disturbed]

i pray for different reasons, sometimes its to ask for something, sometimes its to ask to understand something, and i do pray for others if they need something or are going through a hard time.

and sometimes i pray just to talk

[Cain]

Hell no! Prayer is dangerous. Look at all those rains of fish etc recorded by Charles Fortean. You dont think they just happened by chance, do you? I'd rather not be the focus of attention of something like that.

[Luminessence]

I pray. Sometimes to ask for things, sometimes to thank God for what I have, and sometimes just to talk.

[Philosophia]

I pray. Its a good way to just talk and vent.

[Ceres]

I thought I was beyond the need for prayer, but I discovered that sometimes, with worry for my kids, I need prayer still.

[Akhkharu Asgard]

I've completely lost faith in that. Unless something completely ddrastic and bad happened, I might revert back to it. But it has *never* worked for me, so I just don't. But I do like seeing those poll results. Plus, if there is an omnipotent being out there, I'm sure he, she, it would know exactly what I would need to pray about. And if not, oh well. I'll just fix what I have to on my own.

[Phoenix Element]

I hardly ever formally pray. I do talk to myself and to no one in particular (or the powres that be) very often, but I wouldn't call it prayer. When I do pray for help, I am acutely aware that I'm being scummy in the "oh NOW she talks to Us!" sense. ^^;

I've tried to balance it out, but I've never never done well with praying. Honestly, a lot of times, it feels like no one's listening.

[Mishka]

sure, i pray thanks for my blessings.

ditto

[The Lady]

I pray all the time.

[Calen]

Yes. Not so much for things I want; I trust the Universe to give me what I truly need rather than what I want. (If I want something, I'll just want it, no prayer necessary.)
I pray in gratitude for my blessings, and for other people.

[Lady Valkyrie]

I just asked someone if they prayed and they said, "yes sometimes when I want something from the universe."

So I'm wondering what the average is for people who pray and I'm wondering if people pray for other reasons than wanting something either for yourself or wanting something for someone else. Do people usually pray only when they want something or are asking for something?

Yes, I pray everyday... sometimes multiple times a day. Sometimes I catch myself having conversations with my God/Goddess in my mind and heart throughout the day as though they were right there face to face with me. What do I say when I talk to them? Sometimes I talk about silly things, ya know, they were my friends with me shootin the breeze. Shhhh don't tell my psychiatrist... she'll end up getting out the straight jacket again... I don't like that... LOL other times I ask for strength to make it through the day without strangling my kids LOL

[KylalaKitty]

I pray when I need help/help for someone else.

Sometimes....I'm not so sure what to pray for, so I pray for the highest good to happen.

[Peter_Parker]

I do. Even though i would like to pray more than i normally do.

[StephanieAine]

(This will be long - but I thought it might be interesting to have a Christian's prayer description in the thread since we're a minority around here!)



I pray for a lot of reasons. One reason (the 'technical stuff' I suppose!), Christian Scripture teaches that believers are to pray without ceasing and to pray for all sorts of reasons because it's conversation with God.

As far as my *personal* prayer life is concerned, I pray for a lot of reasons.

The older I get and the deeper my relationship with God becomes, the less I pray for things I need, help I want, or other forms of asking God to do something for me... and the more I pray because it's a means of conversation.

I pray at the hearth every Friday at sunset - which is the beginning of the new day in Celtic tradition - and is also Sabbath in the Celtic Christian and Jewish traditions. As I light the candles on the hearth, I pray in gratitude for the previous week and in welcome to the new day, I welcome the Sabbath (and God's Presence that I seem to feel especially close to in that moment), and I ask blessings upon the household (the 'lifting' of the fire, opposite of the banking/'smooring' of the fire that happens before bedtime).

At that time, I pray for God to work within me, through me, and around me by His Indwelling Holy Spirit as I work (because I often work on my book after I've said the prayers and blessings at the hearth because my book is of a Celtic Christian nature, so it's a fitting time to talk to Him about it.)
I also pray for whatever needs my daughter has at the moment (IrishDancer is her name at MW).

I usually close the prayer by asking Him to surround our home with a hedge of protection (in reference to a Scriptural teaching about protection) and to bless our household with a renewed awareness and fullness of the Holy Spirit who lives here with us. (This is a form of 'encircling prayer.' He Indwells us, and He also dwells in our home; and in accordance with His Will, our home is surrounded by the hedge of His protection.)

The same sort of prayer happens again at Sunday sunset, which is traditionally the Lord's Day, day one of the week, as day seven/Sabbath comes to a close.

Other than the "weekly festival weekend" of Sabbath, I go to the hearth several times a day, either to light candles and pray my thanks and tell God what's going on at the moment, ask Him to advise me or direct me, allowing me to be the tool/resource He uses to accomplish His Will at that time... or maybe I go there to tend a candle if one needs to be replaced or something (I keep a few in the hearth regularly, plus occasionally one or two votives for particular needs. Currently my blue glass votive will be in a lot of use tomorrow, I believe, because I've been worrying about Israel/Jerusalem/Morr/everyone over there, and I always use the blue votive for my Holy Land related prayers).

Often I'll pray spontaneously at my desk when a thought occurs to me that I feel like I want to share with Him. Sometimes I'll read a forum thread and decide to pray for someone - that is, unless the person would be extremely opposed to that, *or* if the person has said something hateful about God in general, or about Jesus specifically, or mocked the Holy Spirit in some way. I can't go for that; no no - no can do.

It seems like a lot of my prayers are involved with praying intercession of some sort, seeking God's care for someone in trouble or searching, etc. Also, I ask a lot of blessings on people, places, and situations; I pray to ask God to lead me according to His Will; I pray about something in Scripture to understand its underlying meanings, or to listen for His voice.

I pray blessings over food (as long as I remember to do it, that is! It's a terrible habit, but so often IrishDancer gets on me about it because I'll already be munching away - even if ten minutes earlier, I said we can't forget to ask the blessing!)

One of my favorite things stand at the hearth and pray right as sunset falls, or to just sit and read some part of the Bible and pray in a relaxed, conversational way. In those moments, I really feel the "Rabbi-ness" of Jesus, because He is teaching me through the Holy Spirit as I go through the Words and think about them. I feel like I'm sitting at his feet learning His parables.

I pray prayers of thanks a lot... for big things and small ones, too. I'm trying to remember to add more 'praise' with the thanks, because I want to be sure I don't get caught in the common trap of thanking Him for what He does when the true blessing is Who He Is and that I have the relationship with Him as my Father.


Okay, enough blabbing from me! <g>

[fangedeshana]

I give thanks to guides. Ask for help, or for protection for loved ones.

I once asked 'The Goddess' one night in a very emotionally distraught state to get my boyfriend to get of his stupid computer and talk to me for once when I needed him, and it worked.

If I'm asking for anything from 'Divine Spirit', it when I'm doing spell work, or circle casting. I ask for them to watch and give my work their blessing.

If I'm asking for something like guidance, protection, healing, etc... I generally ask my guides. I've never thought of any of it as praying, but I supose others would hear me and think I were praying.

Either way. *shrugs*

[Cain]

I just asked someone if they prayed and they said, "yes sometimes when I want something from the universe."

So I'm wondering what the average is for people who pray and I'm wondering if people pray for other reasons than wanting something either for yourself or wanting something for someone else. Do people usually pray only when they want something or are asking for something?

I never pray. Who knows what the hell is listening in on me. I may as well leave my front door unlocked and go out for the day, in a spiritual sense. Anything could be listening in and ready to respond to me. Do never trust "deities".

[Arion]

Yes, I pray pretty much every day. My Gods and Goddesses are probably sick of me by now8O

[Cornflake_Girl8]

I haven't prayed since some bad things happened years ago.

But I often find myself stopping in cemeteries to walk amongst the forgotten and I find myself uttering to the spirits. I don't know if that's a type of prayer, but I find it to be more of a cosmic ordering when I do that.

[djmixon]

Every day... multiple times a day...

I pray for blessings and protection for others and for myself. I pray thanks to my deity of choice for the abundance with which my life is filled. I pray for guidance and even pray for trials by which my faith will be strengthed and guidance for my path laid before me.

I, too, mutter affirmations and recognition throughout the day... but I also consider that praying.

I think praying just to ask for something is a little too selfish for myself... but that is just for me. I try not to judge others and guess their motivations. What may be said to ask for something may be considered something entirely different by the deity/spirit being spoken to.

If someone were to ask... "So, how's it workin' for ya?" I would respond "Better than I could have hoped... even if I don't quite understand all that is happening, I have faith there is a purpose and it will all work out the way it is supposed to."

[TheWomanMonster]

I guess I do... kind of maybe??
But not in the 'in jesus's name amen' sort of way.
For me it's a conversation with my Goddess, God and or spirits...
not really 'praying' just 'talking higher up' and giving thanks or asking for assistance, and sometimes just talking...
Prayer or not, it seems to be working.

Monster

[Ancient Wisdom]

I pray for many reason, When I'm happy, when I'm sad, for others, for my blessings and for myself.:)

[aussiepunkchick]

i pray for my friends and family and for situations i like prayer is a really kewl time for me

[Bluewillow]

I pray for the safety and well-being of my family and friends. I pray for guidance and help from day to day.

[Mnemosyne]

Yes, I pray. I've noticed that my type of prayer has evolved as I've matured. When I was younger, I noticed that I was praying mainly when things were not going my way, and I needed help. As I got older, I consciously made an effort to pray. Now I catch myself praying when I'm so thankful for how things are going in my life. And of course, I always keep my loved ones in prayers.

[Karyan]

I voted yes. But its not so much praying as it is begging. lol

[BlueEyedWolf]

I guess that would be a yes. I ask for my family to be safe everyday and send my Thanks.

[elfmage]

I pray every day, as a communication with the Gods thing, not necessarily to ask for anything. When I do pray to ask for something, it's almost always for the safety and wellbeing of my friends.