As I close my eyes
and open my heart,
I pray for the welfare
of those in need
of well-being and safety,
and fullness of health.
For them I see blessings
of mending and wholeness,
May my thoughts be with them.

(Visualize healing and compassion
for each person, group, or
situation, then conclude:)

May they all be free
of fear and pain
and gathered in strength
with each passing hour,
May all increase
in health and well-being
and find peace and deliverance
from all discomfort and distress.
AUM shanti, shanti, shanti-he.

18 Verses: The number 18 has mystical symbolism in religions and cultures around the world. The most relevant here comes from Judaism where the Hebrew word for “life” is חי (chai) which has a numerical value of 18. As I close my eyes and open my heart: One should disengage the sense stream of images by closing one’s eyes and open to a “feeling” and “giving” of compassion for others. I pray for the welfare of those in need: More a “will prayer” than a prayer of petition to an outside force. Rather, we seek to transmute and send out, through an internal command, our own divine energies implanted within us as vessels of the Absolute itself. “Know you not that you are the temple of God, and the spirit of the Absolute dwells inside of you” (1 Corinthians 3:16). of well-being and safety: The two most basic of Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – states sought by every living being to be happy in one’s given life. and fullness of health: Everyone desires good health, both for the sake of a quality of life and to allow for a continuing contribution of service to others. For them I see blessings: It is vitally important to visualize the most positive outcome of your will-prayer for the recipient(s) of your healing thoughts. Visualization charges your healing thoughts and assists in their conduction to the recipient(s). of mending and wholeness: We project visions for them of a return to a recovered physical state and a confidence of spirit that energizes their whole being. May my thoughts be with them: Thoughts have substance. When healing thoughts are consciously directed to another, the projected thoughts reach and provoke in the recipient a subconscious reception resulting in a physical and spiritual lift.