Pagan Prayers?

Question

This is mostly addressed to Pagans, or any other non-fundamentalist religion/spiritual group.

Frequently people will post prayer requests on these boards. I think that is wonderful that they can recieve support in that way.

However, I am also discouraged to know that many of these people would not want or appreciate our particular brand of prayer because they think that we are pray to something 'evil'. Does anyone else experience this? How do you handle it? Do you just move on and accept that they don't want your prayer? Or do you do it anyway? Do you go into alpha level and ask the person on the astral level for permission?

I am curious to see what others do...

Thanks for your input!

~RW

P.S. I usually just accept that they don't want my help because I know how vehemently some believe in the inherent 'evil-ness' of my particular spirituality.

Answer 1

If someone comes to me and says, "Will you pray for me?" I will. If something bad has happened and someone asks for prayers from anyone who will, I'll pray for them. If something bad has happened I will pray for them on my own and tell them they are in my thoughts and prayers. I've never outright asked anyone if I can pray for them and honestly I've never had anyone tell me they don't want my prayers. Of course I suppose it could be because those who aren't close to me have no idea what my religion is, and those who do know me are open minded enough to accept that I have different beliefs than they do. It doesn't bother them that I have more than one god.

Now I have asked friends if I can do healing rites for them. And I ask because I want to make sure they're open to that instead of wasting the energy if they aren't.

I do have to admit though, that in a position where someone asked for prayers but denied prayers from me- I would probably just accept that they don't want my help. I'd probably still pray for them though - to find the strength and knowledge to open their minds and hearts. What they don't know won't hurt them.

Answer 2

If there are open prayer requests, I will (depending on my mood at the time) offer up something along the lines of "My thoughts and prayers are with you" or "Sending good thoughts your way". Occasionally I'll get more specific with "Goddess bless" or the like, and if I KNOW the person requesting the prayer help, I may get even more specific and call the God/dess by a particular name.

If a request specifically says something like "Pagans not welcome" or "Wiccans need not reply" then I don't bother with directing any energy. One, because they specifically asked me not to, and it's their right to do so. Two, because there are better uses for my time and energy than sending it to someone who doesn't want it.

Answer 3

I hate to sound like a fundie, but I "feel sorry" for them. They are turning their backs on a gift. But I do ask before I offer my prayers and usually people are very pleased to accept them.

Blessings!

Edit: the our Father is a lovely prayer and I have no objections to it. How do you feel about this one:

"Obsience to Her
Who is Pure Being, Consciousness, Bliss.
As Power,
Who Exists in the Forms of Time and Space,
And All That is Therein,
Who is the Divine Illuminatrix in All Beings."

Answer 4

I've seen this too. Some of us have a stronger connection or focus when we pray. It is too bad that some people are stuck in the middle ages and won't evolve past their unfounded, and outright rediculous gullible misconceptions.

Sometimes, I will pray anyway, if it is a legitimate request... I don't tend to stir the energies for vanity.

Some day.... Some day... people will become educated and see that we're not evil.

Answer 5

To be honest, I haven't yet come across any questions like this directed at Pagans. The ones I have seen are usually directed at Christians. I will give help if asked for it, and not before. I don't like to give help without permission.

BB
)0(

Answer 6

My most common response to prayer requests is just to tell them that I've lit a candle for them. That's my own form of prayer, and no one has seen fit to ask me about it. Of course perhaps they all think I'm Catholic but hey :)

Answer 7

i'm acquaintances with many wholesale bead sellers in New Mexico and Arizona. i've got met many of their clientele who make beads for community American rituals. alluring human beings. i'm a Muslim and purely used Islamic prayers beads to accomplish Zikr.

Answer 8

if i requested a prayer and people chose to respond with one , reguardless of the deity they were praying to i would be thankful. it is my belief that there is only one God but i respect and value the faith of anyone who is kind enough to intercede on my behalf . for me it is the knowing that other people cared enough to pray .by the way, just to let you know i am a moravian.

Answer 9

Here's a prayer:
Our Father, which art in Heavean, hallowed be thy name.
Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the Glory, for ever and ever, Amen.

Try it, it feels good in the soul.