Prayer is an effort made by humans to interact with some type of spirit or religious figure to ask for something, to thank them for something, to ask for guidance or simply to express one’s thoughts and feelings.

There are many thousands of different types of prayers ranging from simple acts of forgiveness to mass prayers giving themselves to a holy shrine. Prayers can involve all types of physical movements or none at all. Things such as chanting, swaying, dancing, bowing etc are all forms of prayer for different types of people.

Understanding prayer can be a difficult thing. Some beliefs are such where one believes he or she can communicate with the infinite, the belief that the spirit is interested and is listening to the believer praying, the belief that changes can happen to the believer as a result of praying, the belief that the subject can achieve a higher sense of being or understanding if listening to the sprit, the belief that in some way a person can experience a little of their spirit, the belief that prayer can affect reality and finally the belief that the spirit expects or appreciates prayers done to it, them, him or her.

Prayer has existed ever since time began although it probably has transcended through the ages with alterations and differences in the way that people practice prayer today. People try to make sure that it is as close to the root as possible and try and follow their forefathers although in today’s world with all the poverty and shame in the world people are thinking differently as to 1000 years ago whereby different problems existed.

It is important to realize that in a world full of different and diverse people, they practice many different types of prayer. We can appreciate them and should be knowledgeable of the different prayers that take place around the world. What may seem strange to some may seem highly common to another. However we express our thought and emotions through prayer, it is generally a highly individual and private moment where one can feel connected to a spirit. Some people take it very seriously and some people feel it is something they do on occasions. Whatever the circumstance and situation, prayer can and has helped people on many different levels. Religion has been commonly related to prayer for many years, but as we learn more we find that they do not have to necessarily be connected and one can pray without being religious and vice versa.