Morning prayers does not sound like a Chaos Magick^TM practice. However, I and others often indulge in this activity; taking inspiration from other traditions, we pray to the Great Spirit (a handy term which mean whatever we want it to) and give thanks for what we have.

It looks like this for me: I start with a prayer to each of the four compass directions, gazing at the appropriate locus and speaking aloud (though usually quietly). Starting with North and working clockwise around the spatial plane, and thinking of the times of day each represents as well as the elemental signifiers used in the island I live on. North is midnight, and Earth; while the exact words differ upon each iteration, general themes here are of solidity, comfortable dark security, material objects, the ‘real’, as well as the dreams we make which can eventually accrete enough additional support to manifest. East brings morning, air, feelings of beginnings, the energy that prompts us to connect with our worlds. Yesterday it brought forth the words, “East, the direction that brings us morning cups of tea, and the sound of birds”. South denotes midday, fire, the midst of our activity cycle, doing things, the clarity of thought that comes with illumination. West for us here means water, the ocean that lies towards the sunset, homecomings with the fruits of our labours and the feelings of satisfaction at the close of the day, reconnecting with those we live with, hugs and sharing emotional experiences of the previous day. After these four directions, I pray to the sky, the grandfather which watches over all we do, for a wider perspective on my little life. To the ground beneath us, grandmother earth, who supports us through our steps, providing so much of what we require. And lastly to the centre of all these, the node of perception and expression that is at the core of Me.

A nice hot cup of tea

Having reminded myself of where I am, I pray and give thanks. These sentences can follow a grouped structure, with the two types of expression in turn, or sometimes they mix. I pray to the Great Spirit that my friends find the courage, wisdom and strength they need to get through various tribulations and challenges, I pray that I find the right words when speaking with those that may seek my advice, I pray for smooth travels, I pray for the best health of this person I know who has been feeling low. I give thanks for specific events that have happened, for good encounters with people, for finding the nice jacket I bought the other day, for the sunshine, for the food in our cupboards, for clean water. I give thanks for intelligent companions. I give thanks for my body, for the fluffy socks on my feet right now, and the feel of the cool morning air around me. And then I close by simply ending the words, as they fade and I feel I have said enough, drifting back to ordinary stuff; part of this process for me is its very simplicity and seamless flow as part of the day. (These examples are fairly personal, on other days it can be that the mood takes me to a more global perspective with thanks and prayers for larger phenomena.)

During the whole process it seems important to let the words come as they wish, spontaneously, not trying to list everything under the sun, but acknowledging that which is relevant and at the front of my awareness at that moment. One can of course do prayers at any time of day or night. Some of the most lovely times to do this are in the night times, at gatherings, to slip off outside and take a few minutes to take stock and speak aloud of inner imagery. Easily learnt, and requiring no equipment, the praxis recommends itself to the chaos magician and others alike. It can be done daily, or just as we wish.

It differs from the version of prayers my peer group was instructed in as children of the state approved church, where we begged a remote deity for His favours on our knees. These prayers are offered to the world we see, looking deliberately to the world around us, and within us. Cultivating this sense of gratitude provides a state of appreciation often lacking in a consumerist cultural media which priorities our deficits. Praying brings our attention to that which may benefit from action. So what we pray to, in many ways takes second place to the prayers themselves. The effectiveness rests on the act of mindful attention. Any supernal influences are welcome additions to the reification of desires into sound seeds of our own creation.

NW