I tend to go in many directions in my life … between my own music, my teaching & coaching, my own personal & professional growth, and family & friends. Lately, things have been overlapping more, bringing my different worlds together. And so I thought I’d write a post about my recent music project about creating … and how you can benefit from it.
I’ve been writing songs & playing music for over 10 years for Sunday Services at 4 or 5 different ‘New Thought’ spiritual centers in the Philadelphia/South Jersey/Delaware area (& even a center in Toronto Canada, via online streaming). These are spiritual communities who live and practice a system of philosophy based on ‘the interaction between thought, belief, consciousness in the human mind, and the effects of these within and beyond the human mind.’ In other words – it’s very much where quantum science, ancient wisdom and spiritual concepts intersect. (If you’re interested in knowing more about New Thought, click here.
Practical Prayer (aka … Affirmative Prayer or Spiritual Mind Treatment)
One of the cornerstones of New Thought spiritual practices is something called Spiritual Mind Treatment – also known as Affirmative Prayer or Practical Prayer. This prayer has 5 basic steps, and can also include an opening purpose statement, where you name what your prayer is for.
This is a creative prayer, meant to be used for creating the consciousness, experiences and manifestations we desire to have in life.
(Reverend Bill Marchiony of New Thought Philadelphia Spiritual Center has an awesome podcast called Practical Prayer ).
New Thought works from the basic principle that, in the quantum field (aka, God) – all things already exist as pure potentials. And so, as you align your own mind with the desired outcome you wish to create, you begin to bring it into form, thus demonstrating what is already created and known in Mind. The creation in the mind is like a blueprint, which is then demonstrated, or expressed, in form. Just like a contractor builds a house from a blueprint. The house is the demonstration of the original idea for the house.
It’s a beautiful prayer, which is spoken in every Sunday service. In addition, the New Thought communities train practitioners to be proficient in offering practical prayer for others who desire assistance with creating outcomes in their health and wellbeing, relationships, changes in life circumstances, etc. for themselves or someone they care about. And, community members can take classes in practical prayer so they, too, can become proficient in using this practice in their daily lives.
SO – this past winter I wrote and recorded a collection of songs that guide you through the steps of Practical Prayer.
You don’t need to be religious or even deeply spiritual to use this creative prayer practice. It corresponds with the natural creative principals of the universe – which created all of life.
I’ve made a sampler of the 6 songs of the CREATING CD which you can listen to HERE.
On the Center for Spiritual Living website, you can also read more about the actual format of Practical Prayer. Scroll down to TYPE OF PRAYER and choose one. This will open an explanation of all 5 steps, with boxes where you can type your specific prayer words. You can do this here, then copy & paste it into your own document if you want. (You don’t need to submit your prayer in order to access the explanation of the steps, so you can just ignore that.)
Basically, here is how you can use my CREATING with PRACTICAL PRAYER CD to guide you through the steps:
- Decide what you want to create
- Focus on your desired outcome as you listen to the 6 songs in order. See your desired outcome as already manifested in your imagination: How does your life look with this new reality? How do you feel? What kinds of things do you see possible now? Imagine all this in your mind and body and life.
The songs:
1) I AM THE VESSEL: this is for your Purpose Statement; clearly naming what it is you are seeking to create and experience
2) WONDROUS BOUNDLESS LOVE: Step 1: Recognition – Recognizing that all of life (everything seen & unseen, known & unknown) is an aspect in the unified field of life; you can call this God, Spirit, Universe, Nature, Infinite Mind, Light, etc. Just tune into this reality and allow it to fill your own mind as the one Truth of life. Let the song lyrics settle deeply into your consciousness.
3) HOLY WATERS: Step 2: Unification – Recognizing that we are each part of this unified field, in unity with All That Is. Allow your mind to tune into your consciousness as being a vessel of expression of this Oneness.
4) WHO I AM IN TRUTH: Step 3: Realization – Imagining yourself being the demonstration of your desired outcome, embrace all the ways you are called to align your mind, body & spirit to be a resonant vessel through which your desired outcome manifests. Just as apples grow on apple trees, how can you become that apple tree? See it, feel it, be it.
5) HERE IN MY GRATEFUL HEART: Step 4: Thanksgiving – Tuning your mind and heart to an attitude of gratitude, trusting that you are already on the path to creating your desired outcome and it is already on its way to you. Gratitude reinforces your trajectory toward successful manifestation and embodiment of your desires, and causes you to be more receptive to receiving.
6) THIS OR SOMETHING MORE: Step 5: Release – Letting go of your idea, so that it begins to be acted upon by universal creative principles. It’s like taking the seed out of your hand & planting it into the fertile soil, then watering it and providing sunlight as needed for it to root in, sprout and blossom fully … trusting that the co-creative nature of the universe is conspiring for your highest outcome.
The entire CD is 20 minutes of music. I recommend that you focus on one outcome you wish to manifest, and allow yourself to take in the lyrics of each of the 6 songs, imagining your desired outcome in its fullest demonstration in your reality. Do this daily, like a meditation. You can work on one goal for several days in a row, until you feel it rooting into your mind. Or you can choose a different goal each time.
Be sure it’s something you genuinely wish to experience as your reality. Doing this consistently is a powerful (& enjoyable) way to practice your goals into reality! Using all the creative power of the universe!
*If you wish to purchase the CD, please click on Creating with Practical Prayer CD – or – the instant digital download of the CD – or you can visit DebChamberlin.com/store.
**ALSO AVAILABLE: Instrumental tracks (with background vocals) and Songbook of Lead Sheets (DebChamberlin.com/store)
***ARTWORK by L.A. Bartolozzi