One form of Dreaming is prayer. In prayer we ask for what we wish to have, and express gratitude for the gifts we are given. We surrender our will to something bigger and grander than ourselves.

Humans have always looked beyond themselves for help and guidance, praying to the gods of nature for rain and abundance, and to the gods of fortune for health and safety. They have been dreamers, hooking their attention in that which could be. It is the nature of the Universe for the gods to hear these dreams and prayers, and to answer in their own way.

Thousands of years ago, when the Jewish people were released from their slavery by the Romans and went into the desert in search of their Promised Land, Moses climbed the mountain to ask God for guidance. He was given the Ten Commandments, as a guide for his people to bring spiritual order to their lives.

Many years later, when Jesus left the desert of his trials, and began his ministry, he told his followers that he had brought a new covenant, one based on love. Those that were following the teachings of the Ten Commandments asked Jesus, "How then should we pray?" and he replied: "Like this: 'Our Father, who art in Heaven ...'" He gave them The Lord's Prayer. Jesus taught that God was like a loving father, who's will was powerful, and who wanted them to have their daily bread, and to forgive them for their wrongdoings. This message of a loving God began a 2000 year evolution of one of the major religions of history (although it has never quite seemed to transform the hearts of The Humans into love and acceptance for each other the way it was intended).

Now, in our new millennium, Miguel Ruiz has given us a very remarkable prayer, one that I believe is the perfect next step in our spiritual evolution: "The Circle of Fire Prayer." This prayer is now the centerpiece of the recent book by don Miguel, "Prayers, a Communion with our Creator."

Don Miguel gave us The Circle of Fire Prayer in the summer of 1996. All of his apprentices of that time were gathered standing in a large circle in the forest outside of Colfax, California. As Miguel stood in the center of the circle, he turned slowly, his eyes going from person to person, pouring his love and intent into us. I remember it as the first time that I experienced Miguel’s love as a physical, tangible, living dream that entered my heart and stayed there. He then taught us the new prayer. It is a very powerful tool of the Dreamer. It is what Miguel calls, "a matrimony with God." At that time don Miguel designated the sword as the symbol of this powerful ceremony and prayer. Many apprentices wear sword pendants as a reminder of our matrimony with God and commitment to our integrity.

The Prayer has been an important part of our journey together since then, especially each year as we gather together for the Circle of Fire Ceremony -- a time when we reaffirm our commitment to the impeccability of our word and our acceptance of our Divinity. For dates and locations for this year's Circle of Fire Ceremony, go here. I hope you can join us.

By don Miguel Ruiz
From "Prayers, a Communion with the Creator"
published by Amber-Allen Publishing, Inc, San Rafael, California
Copyright 2001 by Miguel Ruiz, M.D. and Janet Mills

[Say today's date]

The day of the Lord when the Divinity returns to me.

When living my free will, and with all the power of my spirit, I decide to live my life in free communion with God with no expectations.

I will live my life with gratitude, love, loyalty and justice, beginning with myself, and continuing with my brothers and sisters. I will respect all creation, as the symbol of my love communion with the One who created me.

To the eternal happiness of humanity.

The Circle of Fire Prayer begins with today's date, because it is always today that we enter into the Circle and the Fire of Spirit. God lives in the Eternal Now. Today is the day you are alive, and dreaming yourself as the Artist of your Life.

And then you name this day as belonging to God, to the Divine: "... the day of the Lord ..." and your awakening to remember the truth of your Divine nature: ..."when the Divinity returns to me..." This is no longer a prayer reaching out to a God separate from you to ask for favors. You are declaring yourself as the Divine, as the I AM.

"When living my free will ..." honors that you are connected with the Divine, AS the Divine, in the Divine, and that you have complete choice based in love for yourself and all of Creation. This is your new dream. You are not a subject of God, nor do you need to bargain with God to get your needs met.

"And with all the power of my spirit ..." confirms that you are bringing all of your intent and faith to your prayer. This is the moment that you say "yes" in your matrimony with God.

"I decide to live my live in free communion with God ..." confirms your commitment in your matrimony. You are dreaming yourself as one with the Divine.

"With no expectations." You are detached from the outcome of your relationship with God, because you have no fear. You love because you love, and it is love without conditions. You have no expectations about your love even being returned.

"I will live my life with gratitude, love, loyalty, and justice ..." because living in love you experience the gifts of the Universe as you, and in that Oneness is your gratitude. Your love is the nature of the Divine. You are impeccable with your word, which means you do not go against yourself. You are loyal to yourself, and thus to others. And in that loyalty, there is always justice.

"Beginning with myself, and continuing with my brothers and sisters." You are committed to your relationship with God, you have no expectations about the outcome, and your intent is to live your life with love and justice. Now you announce that from the seeds of love planted in you, your dream spreads out to all of Creation.

"I will respect all Creation as the symbol of my love communion with the One who created me." As your love with God grows, it extends to everything and everyone in Creation. You respect and care for your body and your home, you respect the personal dream of everyone you know and meet, and you respect and protect your Mother Earth. You enjoy and celebrate your animal, your human, and the Divine, and the perfection of all of Life.

"To the eternal happiness of humanity." If you are happy, if you have freed yourself from suffering, your happiness will naturally spread to all you meet. Helping humanity is not the goal of your work, but the result of your new dream.

This is your dreaming homework. As don Miguel says in "Prayers:" "To say a prayer doesn't take more than a minute, but you need the discipline to do it. Say the prayer first thing in the morning when you open your eyes; then say it again before you go to sleep. Dream the prayer. Feel the prayer with your emotional body. Be the prayer; align your faith and intent with the prayer until your whole life is based on this prayer."

And he concludes with: "Today is the day you agree to a new relationship, a matrimony with God. It is an eternal honeymoon, and that is heaven."

There are many other wonderful prayers in don Miguel's new book, "Prayers: A Communion with our Creator," in addition to further teaching about the Circle of Fire Prayer. It is available in most bookstores.

This teaching about the Circle of Fire prayer is excerpted from "TACO," don Allan's Toltec Apprentice Community OnLine. To learn more about this online learning community, we invite you to visit TACO here.

The Sword in the StoneCircle of Fire PrayerCircle of Fire CeremonySword Pendants