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A Healing Prayer of Light
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world."
A healing prayer of light is a non-verbal, meditative prayer of movement and music focused on the light of God, ideal for starting one's day. It can be very helpful to play a recording of "Canon in D" by Johann Pachelbel during the meditation.
The prayer includes four movements, each of which is repeated four times, beginning with the right arm, and then the left, alternating to maintain the harmony of the body. We begin standing, facing light.
1. The First Movement: Filling with Light
"...you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." - 1 Peter 2:9
Standing with our feet comfortably apart, we reach toward the sky with our right arms, as if to bring down the light with our hands. At the same time we lift our faces to the sunlight, and open our mouths to let the light flow slowly and gently into our bodies. We follow the light with our hands as it flows into every nook and cranny. As we do the movement, we meditate on the following:
"Lord, fill me with your light.
Strengthen the bones, the muscles, the organs of my body.
Flow through the arteries and veins of my body.
Heal my wounds, Lord."
2. The second movement has two parts.
A. Bring the light of God to our hearts.
"For it is the God who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' who has shone in our hearts ..." - 2 Cor. 4:6
Starting with the right hand again, we bring the light down and pass it over our hearts with our hands.
B. Let the light push out all darkness.
"... if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light,
...the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us ..." - 1 John 1:7
With emphatic thrusts, we push the darkness away from our hearts, with our hands facing outward. We meditate:
"Purify my heart, Lord.
Deliver me from the Evil One.
Take away anything that is not of you, Lord."
As the darkness is pushed out, feel God's light soaking into our hearts.
3. The Third Movement: Wrapping Yourself in Light
He [God] wraps himself in light as with a garment." Psalm 104:2.
Now we wrap ourselves with God's light. We bring down the light with our right arm, and using our hands, we envelop our heads with the light. With our left hand we bring down the light and encircle our upper torsos with the light. With our right hands we bring down the light and encircle our lower torso. With our left hands we bring down the light and enfold our legs and feet with the light. We meditate on these words:
"Protect me with your light, Lord.
Let no evil befall me."
We feel ourselves surrounded, bathed in light. (At the end of this movement some people feel "lifted up." Remember to keep "grounded.")
4. The Fourth Movement: Sharing the Light
Jesus said, "Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good work and give glory to God in heaven!" - Mt. 5:16
Beginning with the right hand we bring down the light to our hearts. With our hands passing over our hearts we lift the light out of our hearts and give it to others in flowing movements. Feel the light pass through your heart and then out to others.
5. The Fifth Movement: At the end of the music you may invite each person to find a partner and look into their eyes while the leader reads God's Word:
Jesus spoke to them saying,
"I am the light of the world;
he who follows me will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life." (Jn. 8:12)
Taught by Sally Inglis at Kirkridge in 1979. Adapted by Marsh Hudson-Knapp, First Congregational Church of Fair Haven UCC, Fair Haven, Vermont
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