I’ve gone full on soul-searching mode here in Bali. Today, I want to talk about prayer.

You heard me.

Before I dive in I want to make this point clear: when I write about God in this post, I mean my own version of believing in something higher. In whatever verbalization and entity of God, higher power, spirit, or religious entity you believe in, read this from your own lens. We all have our own connection to this. Prayer is for everyone.

First, let’s start with this: What is prayer? What does it mean really?

I resonate with this definition:

“Prayer is talking to God and meditation is listening to God.”

That’s it.

Prayer is simply that—us having a chat with God, and when we sit in stillness, we can hear the responses.

Part of me is a bit nervous to write this letter, as I truly have gone through a spiritual transformation that has brought me closer to my beliefs, faith, and God.

See, I have not really prayed much before this. Only when things got really difficult. I think we have all found ourselves at some stage praying. When we feel we have done everything, the last thing to do is to rely on a higher power.

From moments of praying for everyone affected by the LA fires. Praying at the temple for my friend’s family back home, whose loved one is nearing the end of her life in the hospital. It looks like praying for my friend’s sick pet to be ok. I’ve had so many moments of prayer here.

To let go and let God. Sometimes, that is the one thing left to do.

However, I watched the movie The Forge a few days ago, and in it, there was a line that went:

“We can’t treat prayer like it’s some spare tire you pull out in an emergency. No. Prayer has to be more like the steering wheel that you hold tightly every day no matter where you are going.”

That line hit me hard. It reframed how I thought about prayer—not as a last resort but as a daily practice.

Prayer is often misunderstood as something formal or reserved for religious occasions. But at its core, prayer is incredibly simple.

Prayer can be taking a moment of stillness to sit and ask: “Give me a sign.”
For me, starting the day with a simple “thank you for another beautiful day being alive on this earth” has shifted my perspective. It’s a grounding moment that sets the tone for everything else.

A PRAYER I LOVE: SERENITY PRAYER

I met someone recently who I only got to connect with very briefly but he left such an impact in my life. One way he did this was how he told me how every night he recites two prayers that he learned from his grandparents: one in Sanskrit and another called the Serenity Prayer.

It goes like this:

Spiritual practice takes discipline and consistency. For him, this meant reciting these two prayers every night. I had the privilege of sharing a moment with him while he recited these, and it was one of the most profound moments I’ve had in Bali.

This prayer resonates deeply with me because it captures the essence of navigating life’s changes, some expected others unexpected, some wanted others not so much: accepting what we can’t control while finding the courage to act where we can. 

Demystifying Prayer

Prayer doesn’t have to be formal or structured. It can be as simple as a thought, a whisper, or a moment of gratitude. You don’t need special words or settings. It could be something like, “Thank you for this moment,” or “Please guide me through this day.”

Daily Prayer Rituals

Incorporating prayer into your daily life doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are a few ways to do it:

• Say a short prayer before meals as a moment of gratitude.

• Start or end your day with a brief conversation with God or your higher power.

• Pause during stressful moments to recenter and ask for guidance.

Different Forms of Prayer

Prayer doesn’t look the same for everyone, and that’s the beauty of it. For some, it’s spoken words; for others, it’s silent thoughts, journaling, or even movement like yoga. Across spiritual and religious traditions, prayer exists in many forms, creating a sense of unity despite our differences.

Prayer and Intention

Prayer can also be linked to setting intentions, aligning it with mindful, intentional living. It’s about connecting with what matters most and inviting guidance into our lives. If you read my last letter and you’ve chosen your word for the year, like my word ALLOWING, prayer can be a way to deepen that intention.

For me, allowing means allowing myself to take action in my life courageously and then letting go and letting God do the rest—and prayer has become a powerful tool in embodying that.

Prayer doesn’t require perfection, it’s just openness to connect with you andwith something higher.

I’d love to hear how prayer plays a role in your life? How did this letter resonate with you? Hit reply and share your thoughts; I can’t wait to connect.

Heartfully,

Essi

PS: Prayer came up even in my quick Oracle reading I recorded for you all. Check out below.