The Surprising Beauty of Receiving Men's Prayers
A practice combining vulnerability, connection and power.
Resonant World#72
Last weekend, I took part in a new men’s group.
I’ve done a fair amount of men’s work over the past few years, and I’ve found it hugely supportive. (Resonant World#50).
I’ve thawed some of the numbing I’ve experienced in relation to my dad, and learned to relate to both men and women with greater transparency and clarity, to name just some of the many benefits I’ve gained.
This latest group introduced me to a practice that was new to me.
At some point during the online gathering, one of the two co-facilitators asked if any of the two dozen or so men present would like to receive prayers from the rest of the group to help them overcome a particular challenge.
There was a pause, and I followed an impulse to put up my virtual hand.
Four of us ended up taking turns to share our problem with the rest of the group, which would form the basis of silent prayers at the end of the two-hour meeting.
Though participants shared a deep commitment to studying the principles of trauma healing, and were open to spiritual concepts, this was by no means a religious gathering. The meaning of “prayer” in this context — at least in my mind — could be interpreted simply as the transmission of benevolent intent.
Energetic Support
I found this simple practice incredibly powerful.
It’s already healing to be witnessed in whatever struggle you’re facing by a group with enough coherence to hold you in compassionate, shared awareness.
Serving as witness can be healing too, as we recognise elements of ourselves in the experience we’re absorbing.
But the idea that I could invite a wave of positive intentionality precisely calibrated to support me in resolving my specific problem from the entire group was new.
At the end of the session, one of the co-faciliators summarised my challenge — which revolved around a situation I was facing in a couple of days that I was worried would trigger old shadow patterns of “not being good enough.” (Resonant World #67). He then asked the men to silently pray for me.
I felt my body palpably relaxing, and a sensation of receiving their energetic support. The experience of these men — some of whom I knew, others I was meeting for the first time — all taking a few moments to pray that I could overcome my fear was incredibly moving.
Likewise, it was equally nourishing to give back by joining the prayers for the other three men, who each had very distinct challenges of their own.
The next morning, I woke up feeling very clear — as if the “prayer energy” I had received was still working in me.
A few days later, I walked through the situation I’d been worried about with a degree of ease that slightly surprised me, and for which I was very grateful.
Why was this experience so powerful?
I think receiving the prayers touched a long-forgotten part of me that suddenly came very alive in the recognition that a group of men was holding my well-being in their hearts. This part feels very old — ancient, even — perhaps the echo of some lost cultural patterning from the deep past.
I could speculate further about other psychological, relational and metaphysical mechanisms that may have conspired to make this such an affecting moment — a rite of passage, even.
Suffice to say, I loved this practice, and I hope more people — particularly men — will have similar experiences of the surprising beauty of receiving men’s prayers.
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