“My mind wanders during Centering Prayer.”
Perhaps you need to change your sacred word.
Let me explain.
When your mind begins to plan the day or remember a disagreement you had with a friend, you come back to the sacred word to bring yourself back to the present.
Then ever so gently let go of it.
There are multiple types of sacred words:
>Interior image
>Sacred word
>Breath
>Sacred glance (eyes are open and you stare at a spot 4-6 feet in front of you)
I am a visual person. That is probably why I gravitated to a sacred image.
If you are an auditory learner you might do better with a sacred word.
If you are a kinesthetic learner, the sacred breath might work best for you.
If you worry you might fall asleep try the sacred glance.
Use the method that works best for you.
Just don’t switch in the middle of your silent sit.
I moved from the sacred word to the interior image and have stuck with it.
Remember, the purpose of the sacred word is to bring you back to the present
And
Open to the presence and actions of God within.
Sometimes you naturally bring yourself back to the present without the use of the sacred word.
That is okay too.
Go Further:
The Heart of Centering Prayer: Nondual Christianity in Theory and Practice by Cynthia Bourgeault
The Path of Centering Prayer: Deepening Your Experience of God by David Frenette
Moving from Stress to Joy by Nicholas Amato
A Taste of Silence: Centering Prayer and the Contemplative Journey by Carl J Arico
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