PRAYER TO THE CASTAWAY AND SHIPWRECKED: A SLICE OF ESPIRITISMO

Turn your gaze towards this unworthy creature,

oh Lord, and do not let me die amongst the waves of the ocean.

Give me the strength and the will to overcome the abyss,

give me the grace altogether that your bounty does allow.

If I like a brittle twig, thinking myself strong and healthy,

have attempted to cross the sea of humanity, in search of human delights;

let me my Lord return to dry land, promising to be a soldier to your Son.

If I thinking myself steady, have challenged the darkness and void,

by walking the deck while the storm rages against my boat,

I promise for now on, not to be so bold; as to ignore the lament of those who suffer at sea.

If I as I follow my bliss, have been so bold as to ignore the lighthouse

that has saved me from crashing amongst the rocks.

I promise my Lord, never to laugh at the holy cross,

from which your beloved son was crucified.

Oh you, Father of my Soul. Who listens to the afflicted,

and can see my face ashamed, from what my life had been.

Save me, my Father, and give me the time required to correct the wrong

I have done, before the death of my flesh, and I implore you not to castaway my Soul.

Amen.

This prayer is a core one we who practice Espiritismo make use of. It is a prayer usually said at the beginning of a misa/séance or when one sits at your boveda to do spiritual work with your spirit guide. The word “boveda” originates from how graves used to be built, where they were shaped like tables. In a way, we continue that tradition when we set up our ancestral tables.

Back to the prayer! The Shipwreck prayer sounds a bit dreary, but several tenets and understandings about why we practice spiritism are encoded within it. For example, the world is understood to be a spiritually dark place. Yes, God is there and is Light and Intelligence (much how we articulate that entity within the writings of this coven). God’s spirits are also a big part of that Light. The hard part is ALSO understanding that we, too, are of that Light. Part of the premise of this prayer is that many things conspire against us not believing, seeing, or trusting that Light within ourselves. I know this to be true outside of myself because, as I counsel people, they often do not trust themselves. They are also hard on themselves because they cannot see their Light.

The practice of espiritismo is one of the ways a person can go about navigating this, discovering the Light within, and assisting Light of the spirits. They are all like a lighthouse through this life to the Source. This is why some Spiritism Houses usually have a picture of a lighthouse somewhere prominent in the centers where they do the work.

Espiritismo, as you often hear me say, is an open tradition. So, this prayer is NOT something only spiritists can use. I encourage you to try this prayer if you feel this struggle in your life or practice. Don’t get caught up in any of the Abrahamic language—it’s not really about that. I suggest lighting a candle, sitting in a quiet place, saying the prayer, and then meditating. See what happens over time.

Be gentle on yourselves out there. Light is always with you.