How To Start A Healing Prayer Group By Mary Kretzmann

Ananda Healing Prayer Ministry 14618 Tyl er Foot e Road, N evada C it y, C A 95959

530 478-7561 ext 7028

The Instrument is blessed by what flows through it. Paramhansa Yogananda

How to Start a Local Healing Prayer Group By Mary Kretzmann, Director of the Ananda Healing Prayer Ministry Thank you for your interest in starting a local healing prayer group using the sacred techniques as taught by Paramhansa Yogananda. We can provide you with the tools you need to get started:  Ananda Healing Prayer Council training packet  Sample Healing Prayer Request forms  Recommended Resources: Divine Will Healing book, Healing Affirmations in AUM CD, or the Mantra CD or the AUM CD; or “Thou Art With Me” by Mary Kretzmann

Divine Will Healing By Mary Kretzmann, Director of Ananda Healing Prayer Ministry

Suggested Forma t for a Healing Pray er Service We suggest a one-hour healing prayer group once a week, however, you can set the schedule according to what works for your group. At Ananda Village we meet once a week, for an hour or more. Other prayer groups might meet one evening a month for 60-90 minutes. It is largely determined by the energy and commitment of the group, but in all Ananda communities, some general healing prayers are said at the end of daily meditation, whether in groups, or as individuals. In general, we have seen that meeting once a week allows the prayer group to grow in depth and healing power. You can stay in touch with your group via group e-mails, both for meeting times, and for prayers regarding emergencies for those connected to your group (including their close friends and relatives). This builds a compassionate group spirit, especially if you only use it sparingly. Set Up: Arrange chairs in a semi-circle in front of an altar with pictures of the Masters. The semi-circle allows the group to be connected both to each other and to the altar, but you can arrange them in straight rows if you prefer. Light one or more white candles on the altar. Invocation to the Line of Gurus: The invocation is the most important part of the service for we are asking the presence of God, Christ, Guru to guide us and bless us in our healing efforts. “Divine Mother, Heavenly Father, Friend, Beloved God. Jesus Christ, Babaji Krishna, Lahiri Mahasaya, Swami Sri Yukteswarji, beloved Guru, Paramhansa Yogananda, we humbly bow at Thy feet. Fill us with Thy Healing Light that we may share Thy blessings with those in need. Lord, give us Thyself, that we may give Thee to all! If the group is not familiar with the Ananda line of gurus, you can adapt the invocation:

“Divine Mother, Heavenly Father, Friend, Beloved God. Jesus Christ, Great Masters of India, and beloved Guru, Paramhansa Yogananda, we humbly bow at Thy feet. Fill us with Thy Healing Light that we may share Thy blessings with those in need. Lord, give us Thyself, that we may give Thee to all! This reverence to the Infinite, God, is essential for true spiritual healing. Always remember that we are serving as willing instruments for a much greater power than our own little selves. Paramhansa Yogananda said, “Just heal and forget. Say, ‘God is the Healer!’” Chanting and Meditation: You can lead a chant (Door of My Heart, Ever New Joy, or any others you know). We try to use chants that either energize the group or develop empathy and compassion. However, since so many prayer requests can be sad, it is good to start with something joyful, or heart opening. You can read the poem, I Was Made for Thee (see attached) by Paramhansa Yogananda, or one of his healing affirmations These help us to open our hearts and tune in to divine healing energy.

Meditate for 10 – 15 minutes depending on the length of the service and the number of healing prayers. If your healing prayer service directly follows Sunday service or a meditation, then this can be shorted to several minutes, simply to interiorize again before doing the healing prayers. In general, you want to feel inspired to do the prayers. Your group might also enjoy this A Way to Awakening online video series by Swami Kriyananda.

Healing Prayers: These techniques are in your Ananda Healing Prayer Council packet. • •

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Start with some of the simple “Divine Mother” prayers – in the “three shorter Healing Prayer techniques You can also do the “Longer Deeper Healing Prayer Technique” if you feel comfortable with it, and if you think your group is ready for it Near the end of the prayer session, you can lead general healing prayers for the planet, and for Ananda worldwide. Close with sending three AUMS for general blessings to all truth seeking souls, and a prayer of gratitude to God, Christ, Guru for the opportunity to serve the Light. A simple pronam or bow completes this, and serves as a way to give it all back to God.

Basic Divine Mother Prayer:

“Divine Mother, Thou art omnipresent. Thou art in all Thy children. Thou art in ( say the person’s name) Manifest Thy healing presence in his/her body, mind and soul.” Rub your palms together briskly, and then hold up your hands and chant AUM three times, sending this divine healing energy to that person.

I was Made for Thee I was made for Thee alone. I was made for dropping flowers of devotion gently at Thy feet on the altar of the morning. My hands were made to serve Thee willingly, to remain folded in adoration, waiting for Thy coming; and, when Thou comest, to bathe Thy feet with my tears. My voice was made to sing Thy glory. My feet were made to seek Thy temples everywhere. My eyes were made a chalice to hold Thy burning love and the wisdom falling from Thy nature’s hands. My ears were made to catch the music of Thy footsteps echoing through the halls of space, and to hear Thy divine melodies flowing through all heart-tracts of devotion. My lips were made to breathe forth Thy praises and Thine intoxicating inspirations. My love was made to throw incandescent search-light flames to find Thee hidden in the forest of my desires. My heart was made to respond to Thy call alone. My soul was made to be the channel through which Thy love might flow uninterruptedly into all thirsty souls.

Whispers from Eternity, by Paramhansa Yogananda Ananda Healing Prayer Ministry