Savio Rodrigues SJ

I spend some time trying to place myself in contact with
the universe.

I let go of all my thoughts and try to get into the affective by feeling as being a part of nature.

I begin to feel the presence of the elements of nature around me — the soft breeze, heat, light, earth, universe in its immensity, the soil, water, etc.

It is very important not to reason with these elements, but to feel and enjoy their presence.

I next accept myself as a part of this whole creation and feel one with these elements, as they reach out to me.

I now bring before my mind’s eye the circle of the Indian medicine wheel.

I see a huge circle engulfing the whole of creation.

The circle is divided into four equal parts, from pole to pole and along the equator. I see the whole of creation moving in this cyclic manner, me too.

The TOP RIGHT is yellow. It symbolises the east, the sunrise, and for me, it’s my body.

BELOW RIGHT is red. It is the south, the heat, and for me, it’s my mind.

BELOW LEFT, is Black. It is the west, dark, night, and for me it’s my soul.

TOP LEFT, is White. It is the north, cold, snow, and for me it‘s my spirit.

From the centre hang BLUE and GREEN ribbons. Blue for the sky and green for the earth.

The centre (equator) line has feathers that denote that all is movement into my innermost being.

Each of these must function independently and together, or the wheel is disturbed, which brings about illness (mental, physical, spiritual, moral and psychological). The dis-functioning of total acceptance brings about our masks and shadows.

I now look into myself and see if I am functioning as a unit within myself and in the universe.

I thank God and enjoy my brotherhood with the whole of creation.

This prayer is akin to the ‘Contemplation to attain Divine Love’, of Saint Ignatius in the Spiritual Exercises.

The Prayer Method on this page has been provided with permission from the book Pray: How? by Savio Rodrigues SJ