How to Pray: A Beginner's Guide

• Dedicate regular time to pray. It doesn’t matter where you pray, but it may help to find a peaceful spot that moves you spiritually, like a church or a meadow.
• Pray with intentionality: what are you praying for? Knowing why and to whom you are praying will make the experience more meaningful.
• Beyond that, there’s no “right” way to pray: just say what’s on your heart and let the peace of the spirit or energy you believe in flow through you.

Preparing to Pray

Dedicate time to pray. No matter how you pray or whom you pray to, it can be difficult to find time for prayer during busy times. One way to deal with this is to make prayer part of your daily routine, such as praying as soon as you wake up in the morning, right before you go to sleep, or before every meal. There is no wrong time to pray. Many people pray during emotional times, like when they feel sad, scared, or happy. Some people make it their goal to maintain a state of prayer all the time by remaining conscious of their spiritual connection throughout the day. Observant Jews pray 3 times a day (Shacharit, Minchah, and Maariv/Arvith) and Muslims pray 5 times a day. Still others pray completely spontaneously, when the mood calls or when certain occasions arise (for one's parents, before a meal, etc.). In short, do what you feel compelled to do.

Try to find a spot to pray that moves you spiritually. You can pray anytime, anywhere, anyhow. However, if you have the option, it may help to be in a place where the focus is on spirituality (such as a church or temple) or where the environment reminds you of your spiritual bond (like a natural setting, or a spot with a nice view). You can choose to pray in the presence of others, or you can pray privately. For some religions, like Buddhism, meditation is a standard form of prayer (or, sometimes, prayer is a standard form of meditation). Finding a place where you can quiet yourself and feel connected to your spirituality is an equally respectable form of prayer. Whether an open field or a bowing congregation zens you, find your "place of worship."

Figure out why you're praying. Often, prayer accompanies a ritual, giving purpose to the prayer. It can be a lengthy fire-burning ceremony offering sacrifices to ensure good luck the coming season or it can be a simple, thoughtful utterance in thanks for a meal. It does not have to ask, plead, question, or thank; all it must do is appreciate. Prayer can be a conversation, but it certainly doesn't have to be. Some religions relish prayer as an opportunity for intellectual contemplation. In addition, prayer does not have to have anything to do with you. Roman Catholic tradition includes specific prayers and devotions as "acts of reparation," or amending others' sins. Once you know why you're praying, you may consider who or what you’re praying to. Is there a particular deity, spirit, or energy you’re directing your prayers toward?

Explore different forms of prayer. Prayer does not have to involve crafted, reflective silence. It can be virtually anything. Song and dance have long been parts of many religions' repertoires of prayer. Even some Christians pray while exercising their body! Whatever gets you closer to your spirituality, your God, can be a prayer. If a runner's high gets you there, fantastic. If being curled up in your sheets does, great. You can scream at the top of your lungs if it makes you appreciative, full of wonder, or thankful.

Performing the Act of Praying

Get into your prayer position. What position to assume may depend on the belief you have, if any. Sometimes expressing your thoughts physically can make the experience more meaningful, but there’s no one “right” position to take: consider sitting, kneeling, lying down on the floor, folding your hands, clasping them, or raising them high, holding hands with other people, bowing your head, dancing, prostrating, whirling, swaying, and so on. Some people even pray with their eyes open, and some closed. In addition to thinking about the position of your body, consider the position of your body in space. Some religions believe in facing a certain direction during the act of prayer (toward Mecca, for example). If there's a spiritual place in your life, consider its place relative to you.

Perform pre-prayer rituals, if you want. Depending upon your belief, you may have a ritual way to prepare for praying that it gets you in the right mindset. Prepare in whichever way you feel is comfortable or appropriate. All around the world, people are washing, anointing with oil, ringing bells, burning incense or paper, lighting candles, facing specific directions, making the sign of the cross, or fasting in preparation for prayer. Many religions take your appearance into account. Certain clothes are deemed appropriate or inappropriate for prayerful gatherings. If for some reason you find your current dress distracting, opt for a presentation that is more reminiscent of you and your spirituality.

Open the prayer by speaking aloud, singing, or thinking. There are many ways to pray. Some prayers are recited from memory or read from a book, while other prayers are more like conversations. You may open the prayer by calling on the god or deity you are praying to, and asking for help (or whatever your intention). There is no wrong way to go about it. If a memorized prayer or chant delivers the point of your intended message, there is no need to go about searching for words. But if you have a specific thought, question, or concern in mind, any informal dialogue counts just as much.

Make the request, ask the question, or just make your voice heard. You can ask for answers, seek strength, send good wishes to others, or give thanks. Perhaps the most basic forms of prayer are requests for help in becoming a good (or better) person, and requests that your deity directs your prayer. There is no length of time necessary for a prayer. Your prayer may consist of a lengthy plea for aid, or you may send a simple "Hey, thanks!" in gratitude for a recent blessing. Clearing your mind and becoming silent can be a useful part of prayer. Don't feel the need to be constantly thinking, talking, or listening for messages. You may find a clearer mind that has the answers in contemplative silence.

Close with a word or gesture, or simply by sitting in silence. Some people end the prayer with a special word, phrase, or gesture, while others simply sit in silence for a minute or two. Remove yourself, still reflectively, from your position or location and go about your day, a little more spiritually than before. Some people end or close the prayer with one word like "Amen" or "Du'a," and some may invoke the name of an authority; e.g., many Christians say: "...in the name of Jesus, Amen." You'll know when your prayer is complete. You may have expressed all you needed to express, or you may simply feel the spirit move through you.

Prayers or Spiritual Actions by Faith

Buddhism How to Say a Buddhist Prayer How to Practice Buddhist Meditation How to Open Your Spiritual Chakras

Christianity How to Pray the Lord's Prayer How to Pray Effectively (Christianity) How to Appreciate Speaking in Tongues How to Make a Prayer Journal How to Pray to Jesus How to Pray the Rosary How to Cross Yourself

Hinduism How to Perform Puja

Islam How to Perform Wudu How to Perform Salah How to Find the Qibla for Prayer

Judaism How to Perform Netilat Yadayim How to Practice and Memorize Prayers for Your Bar or Bat Mitzvah How to Blow a Shofar

Nature/Pagan How to Conduct an Odinist Ritual How to Ground and Center How to Connect With a Higher Spirit through Nature

Unitarian Universalist How to Say a Unitarian Universalist Prayer

Zen How to Do Zazen How to Begin Zen Meditation (Zazen)