Throughout time and space we humans have encountered difficulties and trials of all types.

Some feel that in times of needs that prayers, whether of their own or even more importantly, from others, provide them with solace and help.

I start this new topic offering prayers to all in need and wish others join to offer their understanding and support to those whose needs are so great.

Do you have a loved one or special person for whom you would like community prayers to be offered?

O our Father, the Sky, hear us and make us strong.

O our Mother, the Earth, hear us and give us support.

O Spirit of the East,send us your Wisdom.

O Spirit of the South,may we tread your path.

O Spirit of the West,may we always be ready for the long journey.

O Spirit of the North, purify us with your cleansing winds.

American Indian - Sioux

Let my heart be the vessel of God's Love.

Let my thoughts be the blossom of God's Love.

Let my words be the expression of God's Love.

Let my actions be the fulfillment of God's Love. willingness - david ridge

Send Thy peace O Lord, which is

perfect and everlasting,

that our souls may radiate peace.

Send Thy peace O Lord, that we

may think, act and speak harmoniously.

Send Thy peace O Lord, that we

may be contented and thankful for

Thy bountiful gifts.

Send Thy peace O Lord, that amidst

our worldly strife, we may enjoy Thy bliss.

Send Thy peace O Lord, that we

may endure all, tolerate all, in the thought of

Thy grace and mercy.

Send Thy peace O Lord, that our lives

may become a Divine vision and in Thy light,

all darkness may vanish.

Send Thy peace O Lord, our Father and Mother,

that we Thy children on Earth may all

unite in one family.

prayer for peace - Pir-o-Murshid Inayat Khan - 1921 ±

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free,

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right,

'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd,

To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight,

Till by turning, turning we come round right.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

Amen.

We put thirty spokes together to make a wheel;

But the wheel works because of the space where there is nothing.

We turn clay to make a vessel;

But the space where there is nothing is what makes the vessel useful.

We erect walls to make a house;

But doors and windows, spaces where there is nothing, make the house habitable.

As we take advantage of what is, let us recognize the usefulness of what is not.

-Lao Tsu

Let there be respect for the earth,

Peace for its people,

Love in our lives,

Delight in the good,

Forgiveness for past wrongs

And from now on, a new start.

Millennium Resolution - Rev. Peter Trow - 1999

All I really need is a song in my heart

food in my belly

love in my family

http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/ articles.php?aid=639

May I become at all times, both now and forever

A protector for those without protection

A guide for those who have lost their way

A ship for those with oceans to cross

A bridge for those with rivers to cross

A sanctuary for those in danger

A lamp for those without light

A place of refuge for those who lack shelter

And a servant to all in need.

Buddhist - Prayer of Peace

O Great Spirit of our Ancestors, I raise my pipe to you.

To your messengers the four winds, and to Mother Earth who provides for your children.

Give us the wisdom to teach our children to love, to respect, and to be kind to each other so that they may grow with peace in mind.

Let us learn to share all the good things you provide for us on this Earth.

-Native American Prayer for Peace

More Peace Prayers: http://www.souledout.org/newworl dreligion/worldprayers/peacepray ers.html

Be Not Afraid You shall cross the barren desert, but you shall not die of thirst. You shall wander far in safety though you do not know the way. You shall speak your words in foreign lands and all will understand. You shall see the face of God and live.

Be not afraid. I go before you always; Come follow me, and I will give you rest.

[From a prayer card Michael Yon found on a base in Anbar Province, Iraq.]

Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu.

Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu.

Loka Samastha Sukino Bhavantu.

Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.

May all the beings in all the worlds be happy.

May all the beings in all the worlds be happy.

May all the beings in all the worlds be happy.

Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

Vedas - World Peace Prayer

Blessed are You, HASHEM, Shield of Abraham.

You are eternally mighty, my Lord, the Resuscitator of the dead are You; abundantly able to save.

May He obligate the Angel Af-Bri to give us portions of the segregated rain, to soften the wasteland's face when it is dry as rock.

With water You symbolized Your might in Scripture, to soothe with its drops those in whom was blown a soul, to keep alive the ones who recall the strengths of the rain."

http://www.obgyn.net/newsrx/wome ns_health-Fertility-20011018-16. asp

Soul of our souls, Spirit of our spirits, And the One embracing All, Divine One, of infinite names and none: Powers of East, South, West and North, And all who weave the Universe: I call to you, within and without - This night, this rite.

Divine Air - bring imagination and creativity to the world. Like the far-seeing hawk, May we see this situation as the whole complex tapestry that it is, And be in-spired with fresh and virgin weavings. Like the unfettered winds, May we be freed from old assumptions and patterns in how we respond, And breath in new possibilities.

Divine Fire - bring clarity and compassionate passion to the world. Like the bright light of the Sun, May we see clearly the way-forward of "what is necessary" for all life, And the time to come. Like the transforming flames, May our grief, fear and rage be transformed into compassion for all - All victims and perpetrators alike.

Divine Water - bring yielding and wisdom to the world. Like the gentle erosion of water upon stone, May we release our personal and cultural biases, And acknowledge the 'wrong-thinkings' that we may harbour. Like the deepening twilight upon the earth, May we remember the lessons of the past, And contemplate their meaning for the future.

Divine Earth - bring greening and surety to the world. Like the stretching branches of the tree, May we stretch ourselves Into the life-affirming paths of reconciliation and healing. Like the deep peaceful dome of night, May we stand firm in the Goddess and the God, Through this 'dark night' of confusion and fear, and false 'stars'.

May our souls be strong, steady and revealing. May our spirits be en-lightened, faithful and sure. May our choices be wise and enduring, for the generations to come.

By all that is Sacred and True, So Mote It Be. pashta marymoon - september 13, 2001

Hey-a-a-hey! Hey-a-a-hey! Hey-a-a-hey! Hey-a-a-hey!

Grandfather, Great Mysterious One,

You have been always and before You nothing has been.

There is nothing to pray to but You.

The star nations all over the universe are Yours,

And Yours are the grasses of the earth.

Day in and day out You are the life of things.

You are older than all need,

Older than all pain and prayer.

Grandfather, all over the world the faces of the living ones are alike.

In tenderness they have come up out of the ground.

Look upon Your children with children in their arms,

That they may face the winds,

And walk the good road to the day of quiet.

Teach me to walk the soft earth,

A relative to all that live.

Sweeten my heart and fill me with light,

And give me the strength to understand and the eyes to see.

Help me, for without You I am nothing.

Hetchetu aloh!

American Indian - Oglala Sioux - Black Elk - circa 1931

The light of God surrounds me;

The love of God enfolds me;

The power of God protects me;

The presence of God watches over me.

Wherever I am, God is.

Prayer for Protection - James Dillet Freeman - 1941

I am one with my father and the universe.

I am one with mother earth.

I am one with everyone within the reach of my voice.

And, in this togetherness, we ask the divine intelligence to eradicate all

negatives from our hearts, from our minds,

from our words, and from our actions.

And, so be it.

Babatunde Olatunji - 1927-2003

And now, Grandfather, I ask you to bless the white man.

He needs your wisdom, your guidance.

You see, for so long he has tried to destroy my people,

and only feels comfortable when given power.

Bless them, show them the peace we understand;

teach them humility.

For I fear they will someday destroy themselves and their children

as they have done to Mother Earth.

I plead, I cry, after all, they are my brothers ...

Prayer for the White Man - Native American Indian

May you be filled with loving kindness.

May you be well.

May you be peaceful and at ease.

May you be happy.

Ancient - Tibetan Buddhist - Blessing

O God!

Refresh and gladden my spirit.

Purify my heart.

Illumine my powers.

I lay all my affairs in Thy hands.

Thou art my Guide and my Refuge.

I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved;

I will be a happy and joyful being.

O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety,

nor will I let trouble harass me.

I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.

O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself.

I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord.

Baha'i prayers - `Abdu'l-Bahá

Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there; I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow,

I am the sun on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning's hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush

Of quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry,

I am not there; I did not die.

Mary Elizabeth Frye - 1932

Send Thy peace O Lord, which is perfect and everlasting, that our souls may radiate peace.

Send Thy peace O Lord, that we may think, act and speak harmoniously.

Send Thy peace O Lord, that we may be contented and thankful for Thy bountiful gifts.

Send Thy peace O Lord, that amidst our worldly strife, we may enjoy Thy bliss.

Send Thy peace O Lord, that we may endure all, tolerate all, in the thought of Thy grace and mercy.

Send Thy peace O Lord, that our lives may become a Divine vision and in Thy light, all darkness may vanish.

Send Thy peace O Lord, our Father and Mother, that we Thy children on Earth may all unite in one family.

source: prayer for peace - pir-o-murshid inayat khan -

Do everything with a mind that lets go.

Do not expect any praise or reward.

If you let go a little, you will have a little peace.

If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of peace.

If you let go completely, you will know complete peace and freedom.

Your struggles with the world

will have come to an end.

Insight Meditation - Achaan Chah