Throughout time, scientists and scholars have been proving the effects of prayer and positive thoughts.
Many religions teach that the power of prayer is stronger when two or more come together in prayer.
With all that is turbulent and unknown in the world today, it becomes increasingly important that we strive for peace and harmony. It is my belief that this is a time for each of us to walk in love and to spread love to all humanity.
My vision for this peace project, "Imagine", is to use the power of positive thoughts and feelings to move us all toward peace and harmony right now!
Just imagine the power of hundreds, thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands of people sending out thoughts and feelings of love, joy and peace!
For this project, I was especially inspired by the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas". It conveys the message of true blessings received from gifts of love bestowed each day preceding such a holy day.
I propose that each day throughout the holiday season, and throughout the year, we each do a simple exercise that will send positive thoughts and feelings into the world.
My intention is that these exercises will inspire positive results.
You may choose to use the step-by-step guide below before each exercise to help you connect to Spirit.
Each exercise includes doing or imagining a particular thing that will invoke a specific feeling (love, joy, appreciation of beauty, etc.) Through this, you will be sending this positive feeling out into the world. You may make as much out of this as you would like. If you are so inclined, you can spend extra time sitting with that feeling, or you may turn the exercise into a meditation or prayer.
You might even want to keep a personal journal to record any thoughts, ideas, emotions, experiences, poetry, etc. that were inspired by the exercises.
You may choose the order in which you do the exercises, and please remember to end each exercise with thanks and gratitude.
Consider including your children in some of these exercises too. You might be surprised at how children will resonate with this as so many are such wise souls.
My wish is that every one of you will enjoy being a part of this powerful endeavor.
I would love to hear about your experiences and inspirations! Please write to me.
Peace and blessings to you all! With love,
Maryellen De Vine
Suggested Daily Exercise
A Process for Centering and Receptivity to Spirit
The following is a step-by-step centering process that you may choose to do before performing an exercise (or at any time) to help you relax and connect to Spirit.
My beliefs are of God and the angels, which are referenced heavily. However, feel free to substitute your own words if mine are not compatible with your belief system. For example, you may choose to use "Spirit", "The Universe", or another term more appropriate for you.
Let's Begin To Relax:
Sit comfortably with your eyes closed, palms facing upward and resting on your thighs.
Start by taking a few deep breaths. Breathe in slowly and steadily, filling your abdomen, as you feel the air move up the back of your throat, then release the air slowly as you hear an almost raspy sound.
Relax your entire body, releasing any tension you may feel.
As you continue your deep breathing, ask God and the angels for their presence and blessings in your process.
Ask Jesus to illuminate your entire room with His light (visualizing a warm golden light filling the room).
Visualize the golden light coming in through the crown of your head, down into your heart, then through your chest into your heart. Repeat this with a few breaths.
As you visualize the light filling your heart, say silently or aloud "I am filled with the light of Christ, I am the light of Christ; I am filled with God's love, I am God's love; I am filled with the wisdom of angels, I am the wisdom of angels; I am filled with the beauty of nature, I am the beauty of nature; I am filled with joy, I am joy."
Visualize standing as if you were a tree, your trunk very thick and strong. See your roots going down deep into Mother Earth to ground you. See your branches and leaves reaching to the heavens. Visualize and FEEL the energy from Mother Earth filling you, coming up through your feet (roots) and through your body. FEEL the energy from the heavens filling you, coming down through your head (branches) and through your body.
To clear yourself of anything that is not for your highest good (fear, unforgiveness, etc.), imagine that rain is washing over your body. Ask that it wash away any of these negative feelings by saying silently or aloud "Dear God, I freely release all that is not of Thee in me, right now. Fill me with love, light, patience, forgiveness, peace, understanding, joy and confidence."
Visualize your body surrounded by the white light of protection, the pink light of love and the green light of healing.
Next step, continue by using one of the guided exercises below. You might be inspired to create some of your own!
Perform one of these exercises and always end by giving thanks and gratitude!:
Find or imagine something that is very beautiful to you (flowers, a scene in nature, art, the moon, the sky full of stars, etc.). Really see and FEEL the beauty. Send that feeling of beauty out from your heart and into the world. Imagine that this feeling touches every person on the planet. Let this feeling flow out until it feels appropriate to stop. End this exercise by giving thanks and gratitude.
Pick a song or piece of music that you find very beautiful. As you listen to this music, FEEL the beauty of it. Send that feeling of beauty out from your heart and into the world. Imagine every person on the planet being filled with this feeling. (Play the music over as many times as you'd like.) End this exercise by giving thanks and gratitude.
Pick a song or piece of music that invokes a very happy, joyful feeling. As you listen to it, imagine yourself dancing like a carefree child. Imagine that you are dancing with angels, or with little children, laughing and filled with joy. Send that feeling of joy out from your heart and into the world. Imagine that this feeling touches every person on the planet. (Play the music over as many times as you'd like.) End this exercise by giving thanks and gratitude.
For teachers, caregivers or playgroups, pick a song or music that makes the children have lots of fun when they are singing or dancing to it. Picture in your mind all of their happiness and joy moving out of the room and touching the hearts of every person on the planet. (Play the music over as many times as you'd like.) End this exercise by giving thanks and gratitude.
Give a dear friend or loved one a big hug that is filled with love. You can imagine doing this if you cannot be with that person. FEEL the warmth and love you have for each other. Send that feeling out from your heart and into the world. Imagine every person on the planet being filled with this feeling. Let this feeling flow out until it feels appropriate to stop. End this exercise by giving thanks and gratitude.
Sit against or near a large tree. Imagine and FEEL its wisdom and grounding energy. Now imagine that same wisdom and grounding energy exuding from all the trees on our planet and filling all of humanity. Let this feeling flow out until it feels appropriate to stop. End this exercise by giving thanks and gratitude.
Close your eyes. Imagine yourself standing, feeling your feet connected to Mother Earth. Imagine and FEEL the love Mother Earth has for her inhabitants. Picture this love flowing up from your feet, through your body, and into your heart. Feel how strong and grounded you are. Feel this love growing stronger and stronger within your heart until you feel you must release it out into the world. Picture yourself raising your arms up to the sky, palms facing upward, and see this intense love rising through your arms. When it comes out of your hands, it suddenly transforms into beautiful white doves - the white doves of peace. See them fly off into the sky to spread peace and love to all. End this exercise by giving thanks and gratitude.
Go outdoors and sit in the breeze. FEEL and experience that breeze as it releases your soul of all earthly burdens. Ask that the breeze carry blessings of the element of air around our planet. Let this feeling flow out until it feels appropriate to stop. End this exercise by giving thanks and gratitude.
Light incense, dried sage, dried lavender, etc. Imagine the smoke being carried across our planet and dissipating all negative feelings (fear, hatred, greed, etc.) Picture and FEEL every person on Earth changing from being in a cloud of darkness to being filled and surrounded by light. Let this feeling flow out until it feels appropriate to stop. End this exercise by giving thanks and gratitude.
Go to a spot where you can feel the sun shining on you. (If there is no sun that day, imagine the warmth of the sun on your body.) FEEL and experience that warmth. Ask that the sun shine its warming light on the planet, melting away any "coldness" in humanity, and bless us all with the energy of the element of fire. Let this feeling flow out until it feels appropriate to stop. End this exercise by giving thanks and gratitude.
Light a candle, or even better, light many candles. As you light each candle, say silently or aloud a prayer (i.e. "May there be peace on Earth", "May there be only love in our hearts", etc.) Imagine and FEEL the light of the candles illuminating the skies and KNOW that there is no darkness where there is light. Ask that we be blessed with the element of fire. Let this feeling flow out until it feels appropriate to stop. End this exercise by giving thanks and gratitude.
Pick a special cup or glass and pour a beverage into it. Place your hands, palm side down, over the cup or glass. Ask that this beverage be blessed from above. Imagine this blessing shining down on you, through the crown of your head, filling and illuminating your heart, and flowing down your arms and out through your hands into your beverage. Bring the cup to your lips and as you drink, ask that you be filled with love, joy and peace. As the liquid goes into your body, picture your body filling with love, joy and peace. Picture this love, joy and peace expanding outward to the outside of your body. Since you now embody love, joy and peace, you will exude love, joy and peace to be spread to others. End this exercise by giving thanks and gratitude.
Go to a body of water (creek, river, stream, pool, lake, ocean, etc.) or imagine being there. FEEL the creeks, lakes, and oceans being connected and flowing to or from one another. Imagine and FEEL the bodies of water being filled with love and light from the heavens. Picture the planet with all the bodies of water that cover so much of it! Imagine and FEEL those bodies of water radiating this feeling of love out to the surrounding landmasses and filling its inhabitants. End this exercise by giving thanks and gratitude.
