Jamile

Jamile

(The thing that comes to mind is my breath – it’s sort of the anchoring point that allows for reflection on whatever it is that prompts awareness )

What does prayer mean to you?
Prayer for me is having reverence for the profound which kind of feels like your soul’s been hijacked in some kind of way by something bigger than itself

I do believe in something bigger but I don’t really channel that through any particular religion at all. You can definitely find prayer through the homily or the parts of a Bible or any other religious text as well. I don’t particularly find it in any one thing. Throughout time I’ve come to realise it’s not situated within a religion or not situated within any named thing, it’s sort of something that’s in there – its something that’s bigger. Even Prayer’s not the label – I don’t think words can do prayer justice.

How do you Pray?
I think there is a place for prayer in all things but I find prayer find me mostly in the company of art or in nature. I particularly find it in words, music and poetry and just being outside.

I pray mostly through dancing and reading and hugging and connecting with my friends and family.

It’s a space for reflection and connects me to something that’s bigger, sometimes I find space to pray just in my own solitude or company. For me it just looks like a pause – very much a mental process I guess.

Has prayer changed for you over the years?
When I was younger I would have thought (prayer) was something someone (who) is religious does. I did little bits and pieces of Religious Education classes in primary school and I did go to a Catholic high school. I could see a real place for prayer but I didn’t feel what prayer was for them was what is was for me; I was finding prayer in a lot of other different ways that felt like it connected with me a lot more.

Tools for prayer
The only thing that comes to mind is my breath – it’s sort of the anchoring point that allows for reflection whatever it is – whether it’s I’ve read a really nice sentence that sort of allows for consolidation when you connect with your breath or if I’ve listened to some really good music and sometimes I connect with my breath and in that way allows space for that pause and for that bigger connection.