The Internet as prayer circle...
I've invoked it multiple times, and joined in on it even more - but that thought struck me this morning. How we've come to use technology in pursuit of the most primal spiritual urge... to invoke the Powers That Be towards a favorable outcome.
But to follow that thought further, I guess it isn't new. Painters in the Lascaux caves did it with brush and pigment, my friends and I do it now with Facebook posts and Livejournal. Putting shape to a prayer, so other people can recognize it and add their prayers and energy to the original.
"Hey, FB friends, wish me luck..." "Please send love and healing energy to..." "I have a headache."
I do believe in the power of humans to affect the world around and within them. By actions, certainly. But I also believe that through will, it's possible to manipulate the energies of the world. I believe that prayer is one way among many to focus will. I believe in the power of prayer, regardless of how you shape your request, or how you visualize or name the target of your prayers. If one soul speaking truly to the Divine has merit, does it follow then that many souls, all speaking truly on the same subject, can have even more impact? Isn't that one of the basic tenets of "organized religion"?
I'm in total denial regarding a colleague's probable death, until there's a press release that his body has been found. It is one of my fundamental beliefs that good people should get to stay in the world, and my worldview is bruised a little more each time something I feel is tragic or stupid happens to take good people out of the world. And Chris is Good People. So, I invoked the Internet prayer circle.
Does that make it any less likely that he's drowned? Not really. He fell into a strong current in cold water without a lifejacket on Sunday, and hasn't been found yet. But it raises energy from multiple sources and for multiple reasons and sends it towards a single direction to some beneficial purpose. Some people care about Chris, some people care about me, some people just care. Maybe that energy takes the form of finding him downriver taking shelter in someone's camp. Maybe it takes the form of helping searchers find the body sooner. Maybe it takes the form of that body being less damaged, to spare his loved ones some pain. Maybe it takes the form of comfort for all involved - the helpless can feel like they're helping, the hopeless have visible evidence (count the comments) that they're not alone, and that someone else cares about what makes them sad, hurt, needy, etc...
The exact outcome isn't the issue - it's the visceral act of putting shape to a prayer, so other people can recognize it and add their prayers and energy to the original.
Me and the cave painters.
Thanks for listening.
But to follow that thought further, I guess it isn't new. Painters in the Lascaux caves did it with brush and pigment, my friends and I do it now with Facebook posts and Livejournal. Putting shape to a prayer, so other people can recognize it and add their prayers and energy to the original.
"Hey, FB friends, wish me luck..." "Please send love and healing energy to..." "I have a headache."
I do believe in the power of humans to affect the world around and within them. By actions, certainly. But I also believe that through will, it's possible to manipulate the energies of the world. I believe that prayer is one way among many to focus will. I believe in the power of prayer, regardless of how you shape your request, or how you visualize or name the target of your prayers. If one soul speaking truly to the Divine has merit, does it follow then that many souls, all speaking truly on the same subject, can have even more impact? Isn't that one of the basic tenets of "organized religion"?
I'm in total denial regarding a colleague's probable death, until there's a press release that his body has been found. It is one of my fundamental beliefs that good people should get to stay in the world, and my worldview is bruised a little more each time something I feel is tragic or stupid happens to take good people out of the world. And Chris is Good People. So, I invoked the Internet prayer circle.
Does that make it any less likely that he's drowned? Not really. He fell into a strong current in cold water without a lifejacket on Sunday, and hasn't been found yet. But it raises energy from multiple sources and for multiple reasons and sends it towards a single direction to some beneficial purpose. Some people care about Chris, some people care about me, some people just care. Maybe that energy takes the form of finding him downriver taking shelter in someone's camp. Maybe it takes the form of helping searchers find the body sooner. Maybe it takes the form of that body being less damaged, to spare his loved ones some pain. Maybe it takes the form of comfort for all involved - the helpless can feel like they're helping, the hopeless have visible evidence (count the comments) that they're not alone, and that someone else cares about what makes them sad, hurt, needy, etc...
The exact outcome isn't the issue - it's the visceral act of putting shape to a prayer, so other people can recognize it and add their prayers and energy to the original.
Me and the cave painters.
Thanks for listening.