Spiritual Practice - Praying in All Directions
Blessing in Four Directions and Celtic Caim Prayer
The Blessing to the Four Directions has its roots in Native American culture. It is centered on the belief that human beings are tied to all things in nature. It is this belief which assigned virtues to the four cardinal directions; East, South, West and North. When one prays to the four directions, it is a way to call in Spirit through the unique energies of the directions. It is also a prayer that is resonate with the Celtic Caim Prayer, or the encircling prayer. This is a way of praying that calls in Sacred Presence all around one, and literally asks for Spirit to be present at the front, back, sides—even above and below—of an individual. It is a prayer of protection and sets the expectation that Creator God will be present as both a shield of protection, and the intention that one will now move through the day in a sacred rhythm. (Mary DeJong Rewilding Wheel)
I was first introduced to this form of prayer by a friend who stopped on a bridge during his morning walk to work to pray. He would face east, the direction of the sunrise and the Cascade mountains, representing the birth of new things and he prayed for students and the new ideas they were absorbing. He faced south towards the Duwamish River, as this direction often represents water, and prayed for the ecosystem in which he lived, especially for the waterways, on which so much work is currently being done to reverse pollution. Then he faced west looking over the city of Seattle, the direction of the sunset, often representing the harvest of hard work, and prayed for all those who were at work in it. Then he looked north towards Canada where he was born, often considered the direction of the ancestors and the elders, where we look for wisdom, inner healing and spiritual insight and prayed for the spiritual life of the city, that it would become a light to those that worked and lived in it. Finally, he looked inward and prayed for his own spiritual growth and discernment and the wisdom to be a spiritual guide to those he taught.
My friend Mary DeJong, often uses this prayer in the form of a Celtic Caim Prayer, but has also expanded the prayer into a prayer of Seven directions, including the directions of up (Cosmos), down (Earth), and within (Soulscape). I love this expanded prayer, it is a way not not only centre ourselves on the Divine presence, but also to embrace the entirety of creation and our place within it. This expands the prayerful imagination to include the universal principals of diversity, particularity, interiority, and communion. It honors the indigenous tradition of knowing that God’s presence is as diverse and particular as the directions, and invites the supplicant to ground their prayers in a place. She calls this the “The Rewilding Wheel Seven Directions Prayer” She explains: It is a prayer that honors the rhythm of our days, the sacredness found within the seasons, and how that is reflected through our life’s journey. It also provides a way to speak an authentic land acknowledgment, honoring with the respect the traditional tribal lands upon which we live.”
Here is an adapted from her Caim Prayer:
Find a place outside where you can practice in this form of the Caim with your whole being and all your senses. Back yards, front gardens, public parks, and even sidewalks will do!
Center yourself by taking several deep slow breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth, tuning in to the sounds of the natural world all around you. Receive all the sounds, natural as well as manmade, as an invitation to include them in your Caim too.
When you feel ready, position your body facing north. You might like to raise your hands in that direction, or point your finger towards the north. Breath deeply and feel the air within and around you. Stretch out your arm in front of you with your pointer finger extended and pointed to draw a metaphorical, expansive circle that includes the natural world. Slowly turn your body in a clock-wise rotation--going from the cardinal direction north, to east, to south, to west and back again to facing north while saying this simple encircling prayer, adapted to include the greater community of things with whom we live:
North, “Circle us Spirit, Keep protection near, And danger afar.”
East, “Circle us Spirit, Keep light near, And darkness afar.”
South, “Circle us Spirit, Keep peace within, Keep evil out.”
West, “Circle us Spirit, Keep hope within, Keep doubt without.”
Back at the North can finish your prayers with: May you be a bright flame before us, May you be a guiding star above us, May you be a smooth path below us, And a loving Guide behind us, Today, tonight, and forever.
Amen.