The program is simple and consistent:
• Opening Prayer Invocation
• Guided Breath / Mind Centering
• Devotional Song or Chanting
• Silent Meditation
• Inspirational Message
• Healing Transmission Offering

Inclusive format to help deepen ones inner-experience of and relationship with, the Divine
Where: Om Collective 3350 Lyndale Ave. S, Mpls., MN 55408
Time: Sundays, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Donation: Give What You Can (Suggested $5 – $20)

Schedule Through September, 2012:
May 13, 20 / June 17, 24 / July 1, 8, 22, 29 / Aug 19, 26 / September 2, 9, 23, 30

The following is excerpted from my MN Wedding Officiant bio:

“I am an Interfaith Minister and meditation is my passion. So what does that have to do with marriage? – Because it is a union between two souls on their life journey together. And it is a journey. I’ve been married since 1994 and, as the saying goes, “If you want to get enlightened, get married!” As a picture may be worth 1000 words, so is the feeling of this bit of poetry:

“When two separate souls march in difference
Yet in harmony, agreeing and disagreeing,
Glowingly improving diversely,
With one common longing to find solace in true (heavenly) pleasure.
When ne’er the lover seeks
Self-comfort at cost of the one beloved,
Then, in that garden of selflessness
Fragrant friendship, love, perfectly flowers.”

What people bring to their wedding is unique, and I’ll do my best to help them create and have a glorious ceremony, one that suits them perfectly and sets them on their course with meaningful vision, loving hearts, and joy; lots of joy! My goal is to help people enrich their lives and, in this case, to do so by uniting two souls in their evolving path of love.”

If you’re interested in getting married, or know someone who is, don’t hesitate to contact me for a no-fee introductory interview.

Topics discussed included his All-Faith Meditation Worship Services, Meditation, Kirtan, Power of Group Meditation, plus other Services he offers.

To listen to the interview follow this link:
http://ctinnerchildwork.audioacrobat.com/download/EDGEHappeningsAlanMarch28th2012.mp3

The greatest of all happiness, next to divine happiness, is to be at peace with one’s immediate relations, those with whom one must live every day in the year. When people try to handle the extremely complicated machinery of human feelings without any training whatsoever, the consequent results are often disastrous. Very few persons realize that most of our happiness lies in the art of understanding the law of human behavior. That is why so many people are often “in hot water” with their friends, and, worse yet, at constant war with their own best beloved ones at home.

The basic law of right human behavior is self-reform….Whenever any trouble occurs with our friends or dear ones, we should inwardly lay the blame on ourselves for getting into an unpleasant situation and then try to get out of it as fast and as graciously as we can. It is fruitless to increase the trouble by loudly, unkindly, discourteously blaming others, even though we find that they are to blame. We can teach quick-tempered dear ones to mend their faults a hundred times better by setting a good example than we can by harsh or self-righteous words.

Most of the time, people talk and act from their own viewpoint. They seldom see, or even try to see, the other person’s side. If, lacking understanding, you enter into a fight with someone, remember that each of you is as much to blame as the other, regardless of which one started the argument. “Fools argue; wise men discuss.”

To have calm feeling doesn’t mean that you always smile and agree with everyone no matter what they say — that you regard truth but don’t want to annoy anybody with it. This is going to the extreme. Those who try in this way to please everyone, with the desire of getting praise for their good nature, do not necessarily have control of feeling….Whoever has control of feeling follows truth, shares that truth wherever he can, and avoids annoying unnecessarily anyone who would not be receptive anyway. He knows when to speak and when to be silent, but he never compromises his own ideals and inner peace. Such a man is a force for great good in this world.

We should make ourselves attractive by wearing the fine garment of genuinely courteous language. We should first of all be courteous to our immediate relatives. When one can do that, he will be habitually kind to all people. Real family happiness has its foundation on the altar of understanding and kind words. It is not necessary to agree on everything in order to show kindness. Calm silence, sincerity, and courteous words, whether one is agreeing or disagreeing with others, mark the person who knows how to behave.

If you want to be loved, start loving others who need your love….If you want others to sympathize with you, start showing sympathy to those around you. If you want to be respected, you must learn to be respectful to everyone, both young and old….Whatever you want others to be, first be that yourself; then you will find others responding in like manner to you.

~ From Paramhansa Yogananda ~

By Alan L. Pritz

Years ago when training in and teaching martial arts, I found myself squirming in a movie theatre while a young, uncoordinated, and rather inept Ralph Maccio portrayed a klutz–transformed–to–boy–wonder in “The Karate Kid”. Nobody asked me then, so I’ve patiently waited all this time to finally vent and say, PHOOEY!!! Maybe it’s just me, but there’s nothing that rankles quite so much as seeing something valuable misrepresented to a less knowledgeable public.

The same thing is now occurring with yoga. In April, Time Magazine dazzled all with a cover photo showing a young–lovely in a tricky yoga pose. They also had an inside story discussing various styles of yoga and how mainstream it’s become in the west. Part of me was glad to see this; after all, I’ve been involved with yoga for years and know its value. However, then the purist rankle–factor set in. According to the Time article there are as many different varieties of yoga as personality types to practice it. Some emphasize soothing & centering, others “shake and bake”. Yet these are but niche–marketing forms of one method of yoga, hatha, and the teachers who have generated these expressions.

Western audiences, by and large, like externals. They want quick results, trendy sweat, and glitzy, sexy representations of anything. Ironically, hatha yoga is a minor aspect in the broader science of yoga. I don’t mean to say it has no value, it does. However, many advanced yogis may not practice it at all. Here’s a story to emphasize my point:

A proud hatha teacher once took his most advanced disciple to a nearby Master. After the disciple demonstrated his skillful attainment, the teacher announced, “Now he is ready for seclusion to gain enlightenment.” The Master, who patiently watched the performance replied, “Of what benefit is all this? Even a snake or cat is as limber!”

When Time did their yoga bit they were selling magazines, not attending to details nor philosophic accuracy. Yoga derives from the Sanskrit, yuj, which means “union”. This doesn’t just mean body/mind integration. That’s almost insulting. Rather, it refers to the union of the soul with Spirit through scientific methods of meditation. Quite a difference!

In Hindu philosophy, Yoga is but one of six orthodox systems. It hosts various methods such as Hatha, Mantra, Laya, Karma, Jnana, Bhakti, and Raja. The last, Raja, means “royal” or complete yoga and integrates all the different systems for the singular purpose of attaining Divine union. In the holy Hindu Bhagavad Gita, the Lord as Krishna extols Raja Yoga to the spiritual seeker personified as Arjuna:

”The yogi is greater than body–disciplining ascetics, greater even than the followers of the path of wisdom or of the path of action; be thou, O’ Arjuna, a yogi!“ — BG, VI:46, (“Yogi” here refers to anyone practicing a scientific method of meditation.)
In our sometimes crass, “firm–butt” culture, hatha is the most widely known and taught system of yoga because of its health and appearance benefits. But these are mere by–products of practice and not the ultimate goal. “Hatha” literally means “sun/moon” and refers to the flow of subtle energies within the body. It is the control of these energies that matters in yoga, not a contortionist’s flexibility. Here’s why.

In yoga the soul is known to be an individualized aspect of Spirit. Like the prodigal child in the Christian parable, it left the home of Spirit/Father in Cosmic Consciousness and descended into the limitation of form and ego, i.e. identification with a physical body and seeming separation from Spirit. That descent occurred sequentially through the seven chakras, centers of life energy and consciousness in the body and brain that radiate vital force to the astral and physical bodies. Thus the chakras and their energetic pathways are also the metaphysical route by which the soul must reascend to Cosmic Consciousness.

“In its conscious upward passage through the seven opened or ’awakened’ cerebrospinal centers, the soul travels the highway to the Infinite, the true path by which the soul must retrace its course to reunite with God.” — Man’s Eternal Quest, Paramhansa Yogananda

So the real essence of yoga is its definitive understanding of how to re–unite with God by scientific methods. Obviously this is a tad deeper than the hatha class taught at a nearby health club! Now that I’ve set the record straight, let me re–iterate that hatha yoga is wonderfully therapeutic, healthful, and spiritually beneficial. I’ve been certified to teach it, practice it to a certain degree, and regularly use it in my meditation workshops and retreat activities. However, I simply couldn’t abide by the popular misconception that this is all of what yoga is about. Without proper information people could spend much of their time practicing “the trees without seeing the forest.” The heart of yoga is meditation, plain and simple. Even those who practice the systems that emphasize devotion, service, and wisdom must ultimately incorporate meditation for greatest benefit. Communion with the Divine is the sole goal. As one saint put it, “God Alone”. The great gift of yoga is that it can facilitate this end regardless of ones religious or spiritual orientation.

At a recent dinner gathering, a friend and his wife heard I was writing about the nature of Mindfulness. Perhaps to be polite — or out of genuine curiosity — they asked for a brief explanation. Unfortunately, my explanations are seldom brief. Were I a vaudeville act, my wife would be the one to pull me from stage with a cane if I overstayed my welcome. However, the die was cast and I stepped into my pontificating role. What I relayed that evening served as the model for this article.

Many people have heard of Mindfulness but may not understand its various layers of meaning or diverse applications. Its initial popularity in the West arose after Bill Moyers interviewed Jon Kabat–Zinn for the TV special, “Healing and the Mind.” Kabat–Zinn used classic Buddhist mindfulness techniques with select medical patients to help treat their chronic pain, or rather, patterns of perceiving only pain. With the help of specific breathing and concentration practices, he taught them how to pay attention to the moment. Rather than view life’s drama as a pain–filled horror show, they learned to see that “the now” is a field of rich potential; a medley of perceptions fashioned by attentive, incremental awareness. This first level of mindfulness is most often associated with becoming alert and engaged in even the smallest of things. It produces an even–minded calmness unruffled by gusts of mental restlessness and frees one from anxiety about the past or worries for the future. When applied to activities it leads to a paradoxical state of active stillness.

As we go deeper into mindfulness, the mind becomes completely still. The breath can stop, thoughts cease, but perception continues. At this point the nature of awareness itself comes under scrutiny. A realization arises that consciousness exists apart from the body; that we are consciousness. From this experience the ego takes a beating. It/we can no longer fully identify with the body and all its nasty little habits. These are viewed more accurately as superficial decorations on a more enduring part of ourselves, the Self or Soul. This forms the second layer of mindfulness.

Progressing further, we observe a connection between our individual power of perception and the underlying consciousness that sponsors it. The boundaries of awareness become permeable. Rather than being limited to a single form – our body, we feel a subtle expansion of awareness extend outward in an increasingly inclusive manner. At this juncture people often experience an enlightening sense of connectedness to all life. This third level of mindfulness is not merely poetic metaphor, but reality on a grander scale.

These experiences all come from a root cause, stillness of mind. Such stillness can only arise from focused concentration. That focus, however, is achieved in many ways. Buddhists developed Zen and Vipassana meditation to induce such states. The modern work of Shunryu Suzuki, S.N. Goenka, and Thich Nat Han, are perhaps most notable in this arena. What is advantageous about these methods is their clarity of process and recognition of outcomes. That said other religions also tap into mindfulness albeit from different orientations.

In Catholic tradition saying the rosary is very similar to what’s known in Hindu faiths as japa — repetition of a name of God. And “practicing the Presence” is akin to karma yoga. In the former, reciting a divine name or prayer leads the mind to inner states of increased focus and ultimately, stillness. In the latter, perceptions are oriented around feeling the presence of Christ or God…however termed, as constantly with you in thought, word, and deed. This enhances awareness of the mysterious consciousness that imbues and directs us all. There are Jewish and Muslim meditative practices that produce similar ends, but unfortunately I’m not sufficiently versed in these doctrines to do them justice.

Lastly comes what I deem the highest application of mindfulness, attunement to the cosmic intelligence of Spirit. Mindfulness is most valuable in context of uniting the individual mind with universal mind or Ultimate Truth. Through proper technique one is able to feel and identify with the subtle vibration called the “Word” or Om, the Prime Force of creation. When able to do this proficiently, individual awareness becomes linked to cosmic perception. At that juncture the tiny drop of personal awareness expands into the ocean of infinite consciousness. We reclaim identification with our Source and know ourselves as Its children. With this realization we gain release from the roller coaster drama of creation and unite in ecstasy with the Creator. Jelaluddin Rumi put it this way in “The Worms Waking”:

This is how a human being can change:
there’s a worm addicted to eating grape leaves.
Suddenly, he wakes up, call it grace, whatever,
something wakes him, and he’s no longer a worm.
He’s the entire vineyard, and the orchard too, the fruit, the trunks,
a growing wisdom and joy that doesn’t need to devour.

Such reunion is the mystical purpose of life. Instead of endlessly chasing bits of distracting desires — the illusory sensory mirage — we become eternally sated by drinking the “living waters” of liberating Truth. Such is the basis for Mindfulness and the pinnacle of its manifestation.

By Alan L. Pritz

Recently I came under attack. It wasn’t from a crook or mugger. Rather it was from my own inner demons and temptations. In and of itself this isn’t surprising. Each of us has character flaws and it’s no crime to be tempted. Christ was. Buddha was. Paramahansa Yogananda was. Mahatma Gandhi, Sri Ramakrishna, and St. Francis were. So, we’re all in good company! Temptations surround us like bacteria. In fact, they are part of the nature of life to test and strengthen us. The problem comes if one gives in to them.

The nature of temptation is appearance. It imitates celestial bliss via intoxicatingly sweet yet poisonous sense lures. If seduced by the sweetness, a fall usually lay close behind. In Homer’s classic, The Odyssey, Odysseus purposely confronted temptation via the Sirens. What did they appeal to? The senses! He knew their power and was lashed to a ship mast to avoid leaping to his doom. This was wise because unless anchored in wisdom, feelings often overcome reason and cause people to plunge into error. This may sound melodramatic, but it’s true. How many divorces have been spawned by quick, seemingly irresistible trysts with passion? How many crooked deals have been made from easy but illegal financial opportunities? ‘Nuff said.

Suffice it to say there are times when each of us may be confronted by unique tests or temptation. My own episode was intense. I found that for a period my mind was in a fog and things I’d taken for granted seemed mutable. It was as though a blanket had been thrown over my head and the ability to see clearly was dimmed by the opaque nature of delusion. Fortunately I realized it was important to openly discuss my crisis with trusted people. Though not always the way to go, in this instance I felt that being mute was the last thing I needed — “…every one that doeth evil hateth the light..but he that doeth truth cometh to the light..” — John 3:20, 21.

Secondly, I recognized that current life interactions are a complex tapestry of past–life relations variously decorated with pre–natal and post–natal tendencies. In other words, we all come with “stuff”. It is the nature of conscious living to purify our weaknesses in the furnace of Truth. As long as we continue to seek lasting joy in things of the world, so long must we re–incarnate until the lesson of Spirit–fulfillment is gained. But this ain’t always easy!

It was during this episode that I began to appreciate Jesus’ comments to John the Baptist about His imminent baptism. He said, “Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.” ( — Matthew 3:15). Though not a New Testament scholar, what struck me about this passage was the adjoining of the term “suffer” with “righteousness”. Given my struggle, I could feel a palpable tension between pursuing my temptation with what I knew to be correct. There truly was a degree of suffering involved. Yet the end product, righteousness, was the only course of action I could truly get behind. And to a real degree it hurt to do so. However, once decided upon, the fogginess that beset me cleared up as did my perspective.

Retrospectively I could see that rightness shone throughout the trial like the Polestar for lost sailors. But, it could have easily been overlooked if too drunk on ignorance or blinded by desire. Now, lest pride set in, I did suffer inner bruises from unsettling revelations gained along the way. I also became aware of other individuals who weren’t as fortunate. Apparently simultaneously tested in their own weak areas, these persons succumbed. So, but for the Grace of God, there go I!

That said, how should one handle a fall? Well, get back up! As the saint Sri Yukteswar remarked, “Forget the past. The vanished lives of all men are dark with many shames. Human conduct is ever unreliable until man is anchored in the Divine. Everything in future will improve if you are making a spiritual effort now.” It isn’t error that should overly concern us, but growing in the Light. To label oneself a sinner and sink into self–pity serves no one, most especially oneself. Learn from mistakes and move forward. As Paramhansa Yogananda said, “A saint is a sinner that didn’t give up!” The real Self is taintless and pure. Once we experience this Self and become fully identified with it, our past errors are erased in the flame of wisdom. Just as darkness vanishes once a light is turned on, so too does the darkness of ignorance vanish once the Light of Illumination is attained.

What is the take–away from this article — to not mind falling into temptation? No. That is a reality that can happen, but not one to be sought after. Rather, learn to be vigilant and strong. Recognize that desire and temptation have their power. Part of it is appeal. What do you really want? Part of it is weakness. Where can you stand some character shaping? Recognize that caving in to temptation will not really provide satisfaction. Only by taking the high road, by suffering to fulfill righteousness in such circumstances can one truly feel good about oneself and at peace. Although painful at the time, the lasting gain is worth the sometimes–searing effort.

By Alan L. Pritz

It seems appropriate that during January an article on spirituality should address change. After all, it is the time for new seasons’ resolutions. We all make them. Every year we do. That’s the easy part. Keeping them is another story. Yet why the impetus to change and why is it so difficult to accomplish?

We seek change for many reasons. One is boredom. We get bored going through the same dreary routines day in and day out. Patterns of life can take over until we find ourselves suffocated by them. Any break becomes a welcome release from the stupor of mindless regularity. Another reason to change is that we see things in ourselves not to our liking and want to discard them. This desire for self–improvement is perhaps the most typical motivation behind “inner housecleaning”. Beyond these reasons, and there are many more, is the deep desire to connect with the innate perfection of the soul. On an unconscious level, and to a degree consciously, we know within us is the seed of Spirit and that it is perfect. Every effort to manifest self–improvement allows more of this perfect Inner Light to shine forth. Every step on this road is a step towards connecting with our God–part, and ultimately, with the Divine itself. We seek change because we seek God.

When the Gallilean Master, Jesus, said, “Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect,” (— Matt. 5:48) he was not trying to induce guilt. Rather, he was trying to awaken people to the fact that “Ye are Gods; and all of you are children of the most High” ( — Psalm 82:6, John10:33,34) That’s a tall statement, and, if taken seriously has many implications. Most significant is the recognition that despite all appearances to the contrary; humans are innately endowed with spiritual perfection. To acknowledge limitation, while comforting and insightful, can sometimes lead us to avoid our highest capability. Too often people rally round a flag of deficiencies and cry “I’m only human.” It’d be more spiritually helpful and accurate to say, “Faults are only temporary grafts on the divine soul. Perfection is my true nature and expresses my fullest human potential.”

This is fine, truly, but even when choosing to express noble qualities, why is it frequently so difficult to do so? Habit, habit, and habit! Consider the mind as like potters’ clay, malleable until fired in a kiln. Thoughts mold actions and the conviction born of repeating those actions is the fire that hardens thought into habit. If the habit is positive, that’s great. Keep it! If the habit goes against us, however, there’s trouble. The subconscious mind becomes a vicious taskmaster forcing us to do things we don’t wish to. Exercise of free will becomes severely compromised.

Changing habit requires breaking the patterns of mental energy used to construct it and re–directing these into healthier expressions. Since life is ultimately a construct of Divine mind, the power to create change lies in our ability to affect consciousness. This is accomplished by altering the way we think. Remolding consciousness however, requires energy, will, and discernment. This means directing activity in harmony with our highest good. After all, one may know what is best but still not act accordingly. Therefore, energy must be intelligently directed by will to effect positive change. Action based on true intuitive discernment is wisdom, and when done for its own sake, yields freedom.

How To Change

1. Cultivate Willpower

Since will is such a significant factor is creating change, develop it with “baby steps”. Do small things that you didn’t feel you could, and then accomplish them. Gradually increase the challenge until you bite off more than you can chew and find that you can chew it. After all, strength doesn’t come from wrestling babies!

2. Change Your Thoughts

Pay attention to your thought patterns and simply change them. If you’ve an inclination to be negative about something, switch your thoughts. As often as negative thoughts arise, boot them out. Replace them with positive alternatives. After a while the positive thought programs will replace the negative ones and your actions will change accordingly.

3. Guard Against Doubt

Faith can accomplish anything. Doubt can undermine anything. During the process of change, even during seeming contradictory circumstances, keep focused on your goals with full faith in the divine power within you to achieve success. If you make positive inner suggestions while simultaneously thinking it’s all a bunch of bunk, the process won’t work. Keep positive, continually and constantly.

4. Practice Morning and Night

The subconscious is most receptive to new thought programs as you’re falling asleep and upon waking up. This is the optimal time to practice. But remember to be patient. You may have had a bad habit for years but if you practice with unwavering faith, your life will change.

5. Cultivate the Consciousness of Divinity

While we all have pesky traits in need of attention, the biggest thing we need do is realize that life and death, health and sickness, success and failure have no lasting reality. They are only dream creations of God. We must cultivate the awareness of our true nature, Spirit. Having attained this, all change will be seen in its proper context as plays of light and shadow on the screen of duality.

By Alan L. Pritz

What comes to mind when thinking of science? My unedited image is one of laboratories, bubbling vials, steamy vapors, and white–cloaked, wild–haired individuals, laughing oddly as they scurry from test tubes to flashing dials. Evidently I’ve watched more Frankenstein movies and X–Files shows than real scientists!

The science I’m about to address pertains to something not typically found in labs, that of prayer. But first, what actually is science? While there may be varied definitions, a couple common elements prevail. One is the search for the nature of things, what they are and how they work. Second is the ability to conduct tests and reproduce results to establish the facts discovered. This in turn allows for application, the ability to use learned knowledge with predictable outcomes.

Next one must ask, “What is prayer?” Again, definitions differ depending on how one interprets its form and focus. For those who enjoy categorizing items, it’s important to explore how prayer is constructed, where it’s directed, and for what purpose it’s used. I prefer to think more simply, that prayer may change according to context without altering what it truly is, essential communion between soul and Spirit.

Whether a person considers prayer as mental energy sending or a petition for divine aid is basically a matter of taste. Like looking at cake from the perspective of a chemist or a child, the outlook may vary but the cake remains the same. The science behind prayer is such that relative belief about its nature does little, if anything, to prayer itself. The mechanics of its process is uniform and equally effective. Let’s explore this rather bold statement further.

Begin by recognizing an absurdity, that no one prays with their toes. Rather, prayer is done with head and heart, or, thought and feeling. Why? Because of consciousness. Consciousness is the germ of awareness that links the singular to the Whole, created to Creator, soul to Spirit. Even if one believed only in the dry operation of immutable cosmic laws, there must be a way to impact these laws effectively. And if one can achieve that, there must be a way to do so optimally. Again, that way involves consciousness. Note how.

When praying, thought and feeling are projected into the “ethers” with the belief that such emanations will be both detected and responded to. It is central to the science of prayer to determine if there is a uniform, optimal way to accomplish this and whether that process can be reproduced with equal results. In other word, what makes prayer most effective and how can that end be repeatedly attained? This requires a basic understanding of the principles behind active and receptive modes of consciousness.

The easiest way to convey these principles is by analogy. A Hamm radio unit can broadcast and receive radio signals around the world. A walky–talky performs likewise but at close range and with fewer frequencies. A simple am/fm radio receives transmissions only. According to yogic science, the human body is also equipped to send and receive energy transmissions. When done between the thought force of people this is called telepathy. Done between soul and Spirit is prayer.

The key to effective prayer, as with radio transmissions, is strength of signal, ability to broadcast, and power of receptivity. This involves six things:

• Concentration
• Attunement
• Will Power
• Focus
• Devotion
• Receptivity

Concentration is a state of mind wherein consciousness is withdrawn from all objects of distraction and placed upon a single item of focus.

Attunement Like a radio, the mind needs to be set to the right frequency to broadcast and receive. Ordinary mental states are restless. Since meditation calms the mind, it eliminates thought static and brings consciousness to clear connection with Spirit. Hence prayer is best done after deep meditation.

Will Power is like the amperage of a transmitter. The stronger the will, the better the thought and feeling projection.

Focus is the ability to stay on track. When people pray absent–mindedly, they lose the concentrated power of mind and compromise right application of will.

Devotion fuels the entire activity. Without heartfelt feeling, prayer lacks the necessary conviction and depth to be effective.

Receptivity is both an immediate and lingering quality. It is the ability to correctly intuit both immediate and delayed responses to prayer.

Putting It All Together

Begin with meditation. Focus solely on uniting with the Absolute. Once that connection is established, begin to pray. Here’s how to do so and why. The spiritual eye is a center of will and divine consciousness from which thoughts are broadcast. To make prayer potent, meld deep feeling with concentrated thought and beam both out from that center to Spirit. Doing so with continuous will, fervor, and faith imbues prayer with creative volition. When a bursting joy fills you and continues to do so, the prayer has been “heard”. Now become receptive. Drop your awareness to the heart center of intuition and “listen” for responses. These come, albeit often mysteriously, according to the nature of your prayer. If asking a question, you may get insights, feelings of right or wrong, or perhaps delayed answers from conversations or literary passages. This process also applies to prayers for tangible items. Watch how your prayers are answered and express appropriate gratitude. Lastly, keep the faith! Faith is like a cup holding water. Without it, contents slip away. Prayer, when done as outlined above and not derailed by doubt or negation, will consistently yield results.