The 5th Mode of Prayer – also described as the “lost mode of prayer” by authors like Gregg Braden, James Twyman, and Wayne Dyer – is a form of praying without words.
Core Concepts of the 5th Mode
- Feeling the Outcome: Instead of asking or pleading for a future event, you jump to the end of the process and inhabit the exact emotional feeling of the prayer already being answered.
- Gratitude and Appreciation: You bask in deep thankfulness and love, which is viewed as connecting directly to the divine source or universal intelligence (“the Spirit of God, Grace”).
- Creating a Reality: By embodying the emotional frequency of the result rather than a state of lack or longing, you align with the creative force to manifest or “create” the outcome.
An Example: Praying for Rain
Imagine a farming family in a long drought. One way to pray is to ask: “Please let it rain. Please don’t let us lose the farm.” That prayer comes from fear and lack, and keeps the attention on what is missing.
Praying in the 5th Mode, they sit quietly and go to the end of the story. Using their imagination (Einstein says, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.”) they feel the first heavy drops on the tin roof. They smell the wet earth. They see the dams filling, green shoots across the paddocks and the children running out to dance in the puddles. They let themselves feel the relief, the joy and the deep thankfulness of rain already falling – and they rest in that feeling, saying “thank you” from the heart, without asking for anything.
Your Guide: Working Through the 5th Mode
- Choose what matters. Pick one outcome you care about deeply – for yourself, someone you love, your community or the land. Write it in a single sentence as if it has already happened: “My business is thriving and serving people I love working with.”
- Become still. Find a quiet place. Close your eyes and take a few slow, deep breaths into your heart. Let your body relax and your thoughts settle.
- Step into the outcome. Picture the moment when your prayer has been answered. Where are you? Who is with you? What can you see, hear, smell and touch? Make it as real and detailed as you can.
- Feel it now. Let the feeling of it being complete fill your body – relief, joy, peace, love, wonder. This feeling is the prayer. If you notice longing or worry, gently bring yourself back to the feeling of it already being done.
- Give thanks. Rest in deep gratitude and appreciation, as though thanking a good friend for a gift already received. Stay here for a few minutes.
- Let it go. Release the prayer with trust. There is nothing to chase or check on. Open your eyes and carry the feeling with you into your day.
- Act in alignment. Notice ideas, opportunities and inspired actions that come to you, and follow through. Ask yourself: “What would the person who already has this do today?”
Tips for Your Practice
- Practise for 5 to 10 minutes a day, ideally at the same time – first thing in the morning and just before sleep are both powerful.
- Keep the same prayer for a few weeks rather than changing it daily, so the feeling grows stronger.
- If it is hard to feel, start with a time in your life when something wonderful came true, recall that feeling, then bring it to your new prayer.
- Keep a journal of what you feel during the practice and the signs, synchronicities and results that follow.
- Share the practice with family, friends or your team and pray for a shared Vision together.
Take Your Vision Further
The 5th Mode of Prayer works hand in hand with a clear Vision. Explore the Vision Creation Technique, or get clear on your Vision, values and purpose with Vision Quest Online. For personal support, see Vision Coaching & Mentoring.