Play and Pray: A Powerful Combo for Healing

Image by yun gao from Pixabay

In the busyness of modern life, even with all the comforts and conveniences which paradoxically often create more discomfort and inconvenience, it's easy to feel anxious and overwhelmed. Our clever brains will find ways to cope, and over time we may find that we’ve lost our inner sense, our direction in life. We run into queasy feelings of inner conflict and don’t understand what it is: an unspecified uneasiness. Discovering this state to be a loss of your own identity, it is essential to find ways to heal and embrace the journey back to your True Self. Two powerful tools to explore, that can also complement each other beautifully, are play and prayer.

The Power of Play
Think back to when you first began to play. It was free will and abandon to your heart’s whim. You played from your own inner joy and inspiration. Can you remember what you were doing? What did play look like? 

The image that always comes up for me is playing on those monkey bars shaped in a dome. I loved testing my balance and walking up the bars on my feet (--no hands!)….and then, at the top, hanging down from my knees and chatting with friends, comfortably upside down. And Chinese jumprope, jumprope with rhymes, and lemon twist. Ahh, the sweet, carefree days!

Adult play may look different —or even some of the same! As part of an adventurous healing journey, engaging in playful activities has many benefits– besides being a whole lot of fun!. Play usually means action; you are moving and doing something uplifting. It can also help lower stress hormones, promote relaxation and trigger elevated moods. When we play, we become loose and free from restraints that block creativity; indeed we gain inspiration for new ideas and our mind opens to possibilities! 
And play usually invites connection –not only do you get to tap into your own childlike senses, you strengthen bonds with those you play with. Play can bring people together in a universal language because it’s a universally human phenomenon with such purity.

The Power of Prayer
Prayer can look and feel different in various contexts. Do you pray aloud with your hands in prayer mudra? Maybe you bow or sing hymns or recite verses? You may pray to a certain deity, i.e., Jesus, within an organized religion or on your own. Thoughts are often said to be like prayer– if you think it enough, giving attention to a certain situation or quality, it is heard as prayer (so mind your thoughts!). Prayer shows up in yoga and meditation as chants or blessings. 

Like play, prayer invites connection– to your inner voice, to a greater source, to peace and understanding. It’s a chance to express and foster gratitude which cultivates a positive mindset and a deep feeling of trust, comfort and support. Prayer also brings guidance to help with any feelings of being lost in the world. 

Combining Play and Prayer
Each on its own are powerful tools to bring into your healing journey. Furthermore, there are ways that we can bring the two together: to Play and Pray within an activity.

• Mindful play: Incorporate prayerful intentions into your playful activities, such as expressing gratitude during a walk in nature or offering prayers before a game.
• Playful prayer: Explore creative ways to express your prayers, like poetry writing, chanting mantra, drawing pictures or through art therapy.
• Community and connection: Join a group that combines play and prayer, such as a drum circle, a spiritual dance class or even an Ayurvedic cooking class.

Play and prayer are personal journeys, so find what works best for you, what brings you joy and peace. With both, recognize the healing power it brings to your life and create space for them in your every day. And remember, you are not alone on your healing journey– community and connection are an essential part of soul-healing both for you and for others.

My wish is to inspire you to start today if you don’t already have these in your life. 

With grace and gratitude,
Anna SachKiret
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PS. Hit comment/reply to share what play and prayer looks like for you! xo

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