Of all the spiritual disciplines, you might be most surprised to see prayer in the Thanatist arsenal. Afterall, death isn’t likely to answer our supplications. Prayer, however, is more than asking for things and the asking is more than receiving. When we pray, we first acknowledge a higher power. Death is certainly that. We acknowledge that we are not entirely in control of our lives. Death will concur. By reaching out and acknowledging our weakness, we set our proper place in this world.
Further, when we ask for something to become true, we are naming our care. Although death won’t intervene for us in any supernatural way, a key component of Thanatism is accepting that life is a choice made daily. When we name that which we care for, we set our intentions for the day. In naming those things we care about, we also separate those cares which we cannot control and must release, from those upon which we must take action to realize.
Prayer is also a time to give thanks. Although this world is indifferent to our own happiness, it yet still bestows blessings on us daily. We have created so much for each other in our modern world, and yet we so often focus only on the failings of our fellow humans. By giving thanks for all that we are as humans and all that we have, we remind ourselves that life is a gift and that both those around us and the earth itself give abundantly.
Another important component of prayer is that of asking for forgiveness. As Thanatists, we are obligated by the truth, but we shall fail in the truth sometimes. We may deceive ourselves about our motives. We may deceive others for personal gain. We may choose to flee in the face of adversity rather than face our fears as we know we must. Failing is part of being a human, and as humans we need a practice where we can release our failures out into the world daily. We do this both to name them and acknowledge our weakness, as well as to heal from the pain that failure causes us.
Prayer isn’t just about our concerns either, for having been freed from our self-centeredness, we know that there are many needs greater than our own. We must pray for others. We pray for others because we know, even in their own weakness, they are all we shall ever know or be known by. When’s the last time you took the time to name those who you care about? Just saying their names? When’s the last time you asked those who you’ve named what they need help with? Prayer helps us step outside of our personal world of care and to extend our intentions to others.
Finally, Thanatism is not a personal philosophy, but rather a faith to be celebrated with others. Although our personal prayers help us to set our intentions, give thanks, release our failings, and extend our care to others, when we give voice to these same supplications in front of others, they become real. Naming our care in front of others creates an obligation to act. Giving thanks in front of others gives us a chance to acknowledge their roles in our lives. Asking forgiveness in front of others is both humbling and can mend hidden wounds. And praying for others in their presence affirms publicly that we care. Finally, by praying together for this world, we set a communal intent to extend our care beyond that which we currently are.
As Thanatists, we are not too proud to pray. We of all of earth’s people know our weakness. Reach out daily to acknowledge your limitations. Speak your care into the world to free that which you cannot control and to steel yourself in action for that which you can. Give thanks for your daily blessings. Name those you care about, for they are all you will ever know. And let us pray together, so we might be more accountable, humble, and unified as a people toward our common cause.