Centering Prayer With Marc Shaw

Today, Marc Thomas Shaw of Contemplative Light leads us through his preferred prayer method, Centering Prayer. Centering Prayer is a method popularized by the late Father Thomas Keating and is based on the method of contemplation in desert ascetics.

Transcript

So to begin,

Select a sacred word as a symbol of your intention to consent to God's presence and action within.

The word should be simple,

One or two syllables.

You could choose the word God,

Peace,

Abba,

Jesus.

Whatever resonates with you.

Make sure you're sitting comfortably in a relaxed position with a straight back,

Eyes closed and introduce the sacred word once you're in that state of relaxation as the symbol of consent to God's presence and action within.

When you're engaged with thoughts and for purposes of centering prayer,

Thoughts include sensations,

Feelings,

Images,

Reflections,

Return ever so gently to the sacred word and at the end of the prayer period,

Remain in silence for a couple of minutes.

And in this particular exercise,

I'll have short readings at the beginning and at the end of the 20 minute session.

In you is the source of life in your light.

We see light.

Psalm 36.

So sitting in a comfortable position,

Your back upright,

Focus your attention two inches below the navel.

Taking two deep breaths.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the area inside your head,

Two inches behind your eyes and take two deep breaths.

Now introduce your sacred word and begin.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Now focus your attention on the filter,

The area between your upper lip and your nose.

Reviews

Jesuss be the centre of my life

Utterly profound experience of Jesus, my Saviour. Thank you for enabling this.

Good intro and setup
Unfortunately I got nothing 🤔
It was a nice time of meditation but that's it.
I have been exploring contemplative Christian mystic practice for a while on my recovery from fundamentalist evangelical theology which may explain some of it
I would like to understand more of what is meant by. Intention in this practice

Beautiful. Calming. Peaceful. Centering. How wonderful to sit in God’s presence with you. Thank you my friend.

Perfect length, thank you for the meditation!

Loved it. The ambient noise was so helpful.