Everyone knows the soothing effect being held closely and rocked gently has on babies. But people of all ages feel life's tensions and strains slip away as they rock quietly in a comfortable chair. It is said that John Kennedy kept a rocking chair in the Oval Office to help him deal with the problems of the presidency.
Rocking chairs can be beneficial to our spiritual life, too. Rocking is conducive to a type of prayer using a mantra. A mantra is a word or group of words rhythmically repeated in a quiet, reflective way. Religious people of the East have long known that mantras help a person open to God. Often a mantra is chosen to fit the rhythm of breathing. In this meditation, you will synchronize your rocking, your breathing and your prayer.
The rhythm of the rocking chair should be allowed to bring the mantra into being. Most people need to experiment with various words or phrases until they find a mantra appropriate for them, so do not be concerned if it takes a while to find one that is right for you. How will you know it is right? It will fit the rhythm of your rocking and it will be expressive of your relationship with God.
Each person relates to God in an unique way. One way to understand more about your relationship with God is to notice how you image God when you pray. Another way is to let a mantra emerge that feels right for you. The mantra you choose will reveal to you something of your relationship with God. For example, one person may say, "Jesus, I adore you." Another person might find "Come, Holy Spirit" more fitting.
You will probably find this prayer very quieting and relaxing. You may even fall asleep. That's fine. God loves you just as much when you are sleeping as when you are awake; just relax in his love.
Now for some suggestions to follow for this prayer:
1) Sit in your rocking chair and relax as you did in the Prayer of Happy Memories. Quietly rock back and forth, establishing a comfortable rhythm. Let your whole body feel the rhythm; breathe in and out to its accompaniment. Focus your attention on that inner center of yourself where you are most aware of the rhythm of your rocking.
2) Recall that you are in God's presence. He is very much with you as you rock. He is loving you, caring for you, giving you the energy to rock. Try to see yourself as God sees you at this moment.
3) Tell God you want to spend this time with him, offering him your praise and thanksgiving. Ask God to bring to your mind the mantra he wishes you to use in this prayer. Do not be concerned if nothing emerges immediately. Be at peace as you await God's time.
4) When a word or phrase comes to your mind, repeat it slowly to the rhythm of your rocking. Does it feel right for you? Does it somehow express your relationship to God at this time? If not, wait patiently in the presence of God until an appropriate mantra emerges.
5) Repeat your mantra in rhythm with your rocking. As you continue to repeat it, you will notice that the prayer is becoming more a part of you. It begins to settle deep within you. The words of the mantra become less important. Your focus and your energy shift from the words and become more centered on God.
6) Close with a prayer of gratitude for this lovely, quiet time you have spent with God.
7) You may want to use this same mantra when you rock in your chair another day. Or perhaps next time a different mantra will emerge. Since our relationship with God is dynamic, never standing still, you may find next time you pray this way that an entirely different mantra seems to fit.
