Apophatic prayer is, in one sense, the most uncomplicated form of prayer there is, being simply an encounter with God through complete silence – of our words, thoughts and actions. At the same time, however, it is perhaps the hardest form of prayer to master, and one which I have only taken tentative steps towards.
In this form of prayer we are not abandoning our reason, or denying the worth of the minds God has given us. Rather, we are intentionally choosing to quieten our minds for a period so that we may truly hear God. The reality, though, is that we find it extremely difficult to quieten our minds – they are perhaps the most active part of our being. As with all forms of prayer, this will take regular practice if we are to become proficient, and there are steps towards full silence that we can take. We can see these as a form of scaffolding which helps in building the structure, but which, ultimately, we hope to be able to discard.
As with the stilling prayer we have used to begin these meditations, find a comfortable position and be still for a few minutes (I would try to set aside at least 15 minutes for this exercise). Concentrate on your breathing – slowly, in and out. Relax your muscles. Don’t worry about any thoughts that come into your head; acknowledge them, then come back to your stilling exercise.
Now continue with your breathing, concentrating on each breath. Notice the cool air entering through your nostrils as you breathe in; feel your chest expand as the air fills your lungs. Then, as you breathe out, notice your chest gently fall under its own weight, as the air slowly leaves your lungs and flows back out through your nostrils or mouth. Keep breathing slowly like this for five minutes or more. Each time your mind wanders, recognise that, and come back to concentrating on your breathing.
You may find it helpful to choose a sacred word or phrase to say as you breathe in and out. You could use one of the names of God (I usually use the name Jehovah Shalom, God is peace), or a simple phrase such as ‘come, Lord Jesus’ or ‘Here I am’, or a character or quality that God brings, such as ‘Love’, ‘Joy’, ‘Peace’. Quietly repeat your sacred word or phrase with each breath, not trying to analyse or interpret it, simply saying it as a means to help quieten your mind.
When you reach the end of your allocated time (you may want to set an alarm or have a clock to hand), you may find it helpful to play some gentle music such as a Taizé chant, or read a short Bible passage as a way back into a more active use of your mind.