It’s a bit ironic…as an adolescent, I struggled terribly with grammar. It wasn’t until college, when I took an elective lit class, that I opened my mind to the power of words. Since then I have grown to love words – both the literal meanings and not so obvious messages woven into prose and poetry. As of late, the writings of John O’Donohue have resonated deeply. Maybe it was my August trip to his homeland - Ireland. Or maybe it’s how O’Donohue readily invites the reader to awaken to the invisible world of consciousness; to release themselves from the false shelter of the familiar, the repetitive; to become agents of transformation and change.
O’Donohue’s book “To Bless the Space Between Us” is a current favorite. This book has pushed me to sink more deeply into the power of intention. In this book, O’Donohue describes visiting a community of nuns after completing his ministry studies. Upon arriving, an elderly nun asked for his first blessing as a new priest. After delivering his blessing, he similarly asked her for a blessing and knelt. Although she obliged, the nun was completely unsettled by his request, as apparently, no one had ever asked for her blessing. A woman who dedicated her entire life to contemplation, and yet lived in a system that made her feel as if she could not offer blessings.
It seems odd to realize we live in a world where only some people feel worthy of offering blessings. Instead of overthinking the question of ‘who has the power to bless?’, O’Donohue simply encourages us to act; to directly address this inequity by rediscovering our individual power to not only bless others, but to also bless ourselves.
Whether you define a blessing as a prayer or a wish, or envision it as coming from us or through us, you can offer blessings through what you write, say or think.
In any of these forms, what counts most is the intention behind the blessing. For example, when someone nearby sneezes and you automatically respond with “bless you” – there is commonly little, if any, thought behind this social habit. In contrast, when congratulating a friend who has become a new mom, your words will be intentional, genuine and heartfelt – certainly a blessing!
All spiritual lineages incorporate blessings. As elements of energy medicine, both Vedic and Taoism teachings suggest that intentional words and/or blessings can help you better connect with your spiritual lineage or divine energy. These teachings have become a central component of my energy medicine practice. Prior to working with an individual client or teaching a group class, I ground and center my energies and I set specific, heart-centric intentions (based on the unique needs of the client/group). It’s easy, takes very little time and, in my experience, is highly effective!
If you haven’t yet added blessings into your daily routine, I highly encourage you to give it a try! Before getting out of bed, start your day with the 4-Thumps (cheek bone tap, K27 rub, thymus thump, spleen tap) and hold a kind thought for yourself, such as: “May I feel peaceful and happy today.” The more you offer such blessings to yourself, in a grounded and centered way, the more you will begin to perceive the blessings in the world around you.
