A Book of Pagan Prayer

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These are special prayer beads that are designed to appeal to pagans. Pagans believe in the existence of spirits and gods who live among us. They worship these spirits and gods through rituals and ceremonies. There are several reasons why people use prayer beads. First, prayer beads provide a sense of calmness and peace. When you use prayer beads, you feel closer to the gods. Also, prayer beads help you focus your thoughts during meditation. Finally, prayer beads give you a sense of spirituality and connection to nature. I have been married since 1981 and a father of a daughter since 1982. My wife is simply amazing; quite easily the smartest and nicest person I have ever known. She has a very successful career as a vice-president at an insurance company and as an actuary, a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. On top of all this, she is cute. I don't just mean cute in a physical sense (although she is). Cute is as cute does, and she does cute. I sometimes wonder how I ever won her. The act of prayer, as we understand it today, is somewhat of a Christian invention. Norse pagans did try to communicate with the Norse gods, but not in the same way as Christians do. Often a god was called upon after an offering or sacrifice was made. An offering, commonly mead, was seen as a sign of devotion of the worshiper to that particular god.

It’s a good idea to ensure you don’t let too much Christian vocabulary slip out during the service – references to “heaven”, Jesus or a singular God, and Bible verses may be seen as disrespectful even if said with positive intentions. What to wear to a pagan funeral Prayer can take many forms. It can be scripted or unscripted, formal or conversational, calm and rational or spirited and passionate. Different types of prayers are especially suited for different situations, but the only way to pray wrong is to pray disrespectfully.

I needn't have worried. My book fell on fertile ground. Since then, many more Pagans have involved themselves in prayer and in the writing of prayers. While I would like to think that my books played a part in this, I believe that there are other, more powerful factors at work.

Prayer beads are not a requirement in Wiccan tradition, but many Wiccans do turn to rosaries and strings of beads to live out their faith. Examples of Prayers for Pagan Prayer Beads– Prayers that can be used by pagans with rosaries Do Wiccans use prayer beads? Yes, and it’s simple! You don’t have to be a beading expert to honor your gods this way. You can make your own string of prayer beads to fit the number of prayers you wish to do for your deities. All it requires is some knot work, string, and beads.

I have added commentaries to some of the prayers to explain the Pagan deities, images, and myths, and to indulge in a little theology. These commentaries also show the connection between myths, images, theology, and prayer, thereby helping you in the construction of your own prayers. I decided to forgo an explanation of neo-Paganism itself, however. There are already enough books out there that do that; I don't have much new to say on the basics. I will say, however, that I believe that Paganism is defined by its rituals rather than its beliefs, so readers will find my thoughts on the subject in the prayers. If you aren't familiar with the basics of neo-Paganism, don't worry; if you read the prayers and my commentaries, you will find the explanations you need. This means shunning typical Western customs such as embalming (which slows the decomposition process and releases chemicals into the soil) and using coffins or containers that would take a long time to naturally break down. Instead, natural burials see bodies interred in simple shrouds or biodegradable caskets such as willow baskets. If you’re an early riser, this should be a simple one – rising to greet the sun. Sit outside with your coffee and watch the sun rise. Bask in the glory of the star that gives life to this planet. Bonus: getting out into the sunlight within one hour of waking aids in regulating our circadian rhythms. Which means, you’ll sleep better at night! 5. Runic Stadhas or Yoga The truth is, there is no definitive guide to Pagan funeral customs. Pagans do not have holy books to draw from, so their beliefs about death differ – sometimes quite dramatically – from person to person. That being said, certain elements are likely to crop up at any pagan funeral. Here are just a few: As the sun’s light slowly starts to wane, it gently reminds us that this plenty must be offset with prudence. Ask the God/dess to teach you the value of caution and foresight. Also, consider renewing your attention toward any skill and pray for continued growth in that area: The energies of autumn accent mastery. A Fall Prayer

The second approach is simply to pray. Now, I don’t believe in praying to “the Universe” like some Christians pray to their God. That practice carries assumptions and implications I don’t believe are true. Just as you pray to the gods, pray to your ancestors as well. They enjoy hearing from you too. It doesn’t have to be a complicated prayer. Talk to them as if they’re right there with you. 26. Freshen Up Your Altar You will usually be expected to present an offering of sorts to the deceased. This may be a small token to represent them, money or a libation of food and drink. But do not approach or interact with any kind of altar set-up unless invited to. Wiccan Funerals As someone who grew up in a non-religious/atheist-leaning home, prayer and devotion feel… weird. How can someone overcome that? How do you pray? Is there a database of them, something to memorize, a formula to create one?Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard – writing from a Christian perspective, of course – said “Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays.” And while I would argue the first part from a polytheist perspective (and probably from a Christian perspective as well), I completely agree with the second part.

May the World be led to the Truth and the Light, through the King and Queen of Peace, Justice, Mercy and Love. May we be shown the Divine Purpose of the Earth, and receive Her brightest blessings! I guess one needs to have a belief that the prayers have an ear, so to speak. Sometimes it's enough to just voice concerns in an open space but others one needs to feel like the information is being processed and you're empathized with. This book didn't do that but it didn't set out to do that. It was my secret hope. Further south, Christian missionaries had been flooding to Scandinavia from, at least, the very early 8th century CE. Homage to thee, O thou heart of Osiris--khent--Amentet! Homage to you, O my reins! Homage to you, O ye gods who dwell in the divine clouds, and who are exalted [or holy] by reason of your sceptres! Edred Thorsson talks about runic stadhas in his book on the Elder Futhark. Stadhas are similar to yoga positions. So whether you enjoy yoga or feel a connection to the runes, try physical positions like the runic stadhas or yoga on a daily basis. Even if you only do one or two in the morning to get your day started or in the evening to relax and connect. 6. Go for a WalkOn days you feel you need an extra boost of comfort or confidence, call a pagan friend. There’s nothing like talking to someone of like-mind and kindred spirit. 30. Ground and Center Once you’ve got some experience with other peoples’ prayers, start writing your own. Don’t try to be poetic, just write what comes to you: words of invocation, praise, thanksgiving, and needs. Then edit your draft to make it as deep and as reverent as possible. When you’ve done that a few times you should be able to do your own extemporaneous prayers without them sounding like Pagan versions of fundamentalist ramblings.