You are a Strength-based Spiritual Type!
Strength - The Center of Presence
Primary concern: Embodiment
Primary motivation: Being fully present in the now
Primary spiritual question: How can the gift of our bodies be better used to bring full consciousness?
Strength spiritual types are people who get the most meaning out of doing something with their bodies. This type relies upon their passion for better health (physical and otherwise) for their spiritual energy.
Strength spiritual types are often called into vocations that either engage or care for the physical self. Consequently, they can grow by looking at their complimentary spiritual type, Soul-based spirituality, to care not only for the external self but also the inner self.
Strength-based Spiritual Practice
The S.T.R.E.N.G.TH. Prayer:PRAYER BEADS
The following The Way Spiritual Types Indicator lists several suggested spiritual practices for Strength-based spiritual types. One practice they can enjoy is praying with prayer beads. The S.T.R.E.N.G.T.H. prayer on the following page uses Anglican Prayer Bead with a cross, invitatory bead, four cruciform beads and four sets of seven “weeks” beads. In case you are unfamiliar with what this looks like, here’s a diagram:
You’ll begin by praying a prayer while holding the cross between your thumb and finger, then move on to pray a different prayer at the invitatory bead, then a different prayer at each of the cruciform bead, then a different prayer for each of the seven weeks beads, and repeat that pattern around the circle until you come back to the first cruciform bead, then the invitatory, and lastly the cross again. In all you will pray the cross twice, the invitatory twice, the cruciform five times, and the weeks set four times. Here are three ways to get a set of prayer beads to use:
1. Print out the image above and cut it out for an easy, free paper version (download here)
2. Make your own set of prayer beads with the instructions at http://kingofpeace.org/prayerbeads.htm
3. Purchase a set of prayer beads at https://fullcirclebeads.com or https://www.unspokenelements.com
S.T.R.E.N.G.TH. Prayer using Anglican Prayer Beads
This set of prayers for use with Anglican Prayer Beads allows you to pray the ancient words of the Shema, with specific petitions that our physical self may be used for spiritual purposes. The physical act of thumbing each bead can also help bring increased focus and presence to your prayer experience.
1. Cross Prayer - “Hear, O Israel” (pause for silence to listen)
2. Invitatory Bead Prayer - “The Lord our God, the Lord is One”
3. Cruciform Beads Prayer - “Love the Lord, your God, with all your Heart, with all your Soul, with all your Mind, and with all your Strength”
4. Weeks Beads Prayer - pray S for the first bead, T for the second, R for the third, and so on
S Steady my hands that I may serve you
T Train my feet that I may follow you
R Ready my legs that I may carry you
E Enter my heart that I may love you
N Nourish my mouth that I may receive you
G Gladden my eyes that I may see you
TH Thrill my ears that I may hear you
(Repeat steps 3 and 4 to go around the four sets, finishing with a final Cruciform Bead Prayer)
5. Invitatory Bead Prayer - “The Lord our God, the Lord is One”
6. Cross Prayer - “Hear, O Israel” (pause for silence to listen)
You can download the S.T.R.E.N.G.TH. prayer here.
Other suggested spiritual practices:
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Go on a Pilgrimage: a physical journey to a holy destination, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Christian_pilgrimage_sites or https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/worlds-most-beautiful-important-holy-places-pilgrimage-sites/
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Yoga/Mindful Movements/Labyrinth: contemplative bodily movement of any kind, https://youtu.be/_oj8ZcFYZNg
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Being in Nature/Gardening: time spent outdoors in physical activity will especially feed this type https://www.centerforspiritualityinnature.org/
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Fasting: attention spent to consumption of food and other external commodities will speak to this type https://renovare.org/articles/fasting-a-practical-guide
Want to read about the other three spiritual types? Check out:
