Meditation is a form of prayer that transcends religious divisions. Both Christians and Wiccans have found solace and power in this form of prayer. Scott Cunningham, in Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner, says “It’s a quiet time in which we commune with the Goddess, the God, and ourselves, relaxing the conscious mind’s hold on our psychic awareness. Meditation usually precedes every magical act and rite of worship.” Many Wiccans I know practice this regularly in order to learn how to focus their attention and keep their “monkey mind” (A Buddhist term) from jumping all over the place.

The seminary I attended never spoke of meditation. I first learned how to do it from a Buddhist teacher who also taught me about the practice of mindfulness. Then I discovered the writings of the Christian mystics who are a marginalized voice in Christianity. I spent about year and a half pondering the words of mystics such as Meister Eckhart, The Desert Fathers and Theresa of Avila. I got excited with every page I read because I found my people. They were my guides, my spiritual siblings, and I’ve valued their wisdom ever since.

With respect to the subject of meditation, Meister Eckhart states it best, “God is not found in the soul by adding anything, but by a process of subtraction.” 15th Century monk Thomas a Kempis, in The Imitation of Christ, said “The further the soul is from the noise of the world, the closer it may be to its Creator, for God, with his holy angels, will draw closer to a person who seeks solitude and silence.”

Meditation is one of the bridges that connects our two traditions together. I know people in both traditions who don’t practice it regularly, but I believe they are missing out on a great tool for spiritual growth and getting in touch with the Divine. Our world is filled with too many words. When we are brave enough to be silent, we allow the Holy to get a word in edgewise!

Copyright ©2021, by David Taliesin, http://www.sabbatsandsabbaths.com